Newsletter of the Mycological Society of America — In

The Center for Forest Mycology Research (CFMR) at the Forest Products Laboratory in Madison, WI is one of the few remaining mycological research labs left in the USDA-Forest Service. Traditionally established to study the taxonomy of pathogenic root rot, sap-rot, and heart-rot fungi, the group has changed its focus in recent years towards the biosystematics and ecology of both pathogenic and saprophytic genera associated with wood. Current biosystematic studies include basic research on corticioid and polypore genera and tropical ectomycorhizal boletes. Ecological studies include biodiversity surveys for baseline information on invasive species distribution and the role of woodinhabiting fungi in forest health and fire prevention. Mycological Resources: The CFMR culture collection and herbarium are important resources for anyone interested in invasive species and other aspects of wood decay research. The culture collection contains approximately 15,000 living cultures, primarily of brownand white-rot wood decay fungi. The “working” set of cultures is maintained at 4o C in sterile, distilled water, as described by Burdsall and Dorworth, 19941. Liquid nitrogen is used for long-term storage. The herbarium contains approximately 80,000 dried specimens, including many type specimens. Both collections are important resources for researchers interested in the identification, genetics, and distribution of wood-inhabiting fungi. CFMR researchers are also developing a DNA sequence database of wood-inhabiting species by sequencing known cultures and herbarium specimens. Large gaps still exist in the current databases for many wood-inhabiting fungi, but identification of cultures by DNA sequencing is becoming a more routine procedure. New technologies for obtaining fungal DNA directly from wood without an intermediate culturing step are also being developed. A searchable catalog of the culture collection is available on the Internet at www.fpl.fs.fed.us/rwu4501/culture-collection. html. A searchable database of the herbarium specimens and the DNA sequence library will be available on the Internet in 2007. CFMR Mycologists: Jessie Micales Glaeser became the Project Leader for CFMR in 1998. Jessie is a member of the Wood