a survey was conducted to identify the fungus gnats (diptera: mycetophilidae) in kermanshah province (west of iran) during 2010-2011. the specimens were collected from nine different localities. adults were reared from the fruiting bodies of agaric fungi. five species are recorded for the first time from iran: mycetophila strigatoides (lundrock), allodia ornaticollis (meigen), rymosia pseudocre...

In the framework of the collection and identification of agaric fungi of Iran, three species of the genus Lepiota, viz. Lepiota brunneoincarnata, L. echinella and L. subincarnata are reported as new records for mycobiota of Iran. Two species, L. brunneoincarnata and L. subincarnata are deadly poisonous taxa. Up to now, two species of Amanita, A. phalloides and A. verna, and one from Galerina, G...

The central proposition of this article is that if people are thoughtful, well-prepared and aware of the means and best environments for using a particular drug, then the risks associated with the use of a particular drug – any drug – can be minimal. The types of drugs discussed in this context focus on those assumed to be the most ‘addictive’ – heroin and cocaine – to those less well-known but...

In the legendary biographies of some Buddhist adepts from the 2nd- and 9th-centuries there are some clues which can be interpreted to reveal that the adepts were consuming psychedelic Amanita muscaria, 'fly agaric', mushrooms to achieve enlightenment. This secret ingredient in the alchemical elixir they used to attain 'realization' was, of course, unnamed, in keeping with their vows to maintain...

Mathematical models which imitate plant gravitropic responses were used to compare plant and fungal gravitropism with kinetic data from the agarics Coprinus cinereus and Flammulina velutipes. Similarities were: bending depends on differential growth; growth of the organ is most intensive just behind the apex; gravitropisms exhibit a substantial time delay. Differences were: the agaric stem apex...

Regulations relating to mycotoxins have been established in many countries to protect the consumer from the harmful effects of these compounds. Different factors play a role in the decision-making process of setting limits for mycotoxins. These include scientific factors, for example the availability of toxicological data and occurrence data, detailed knowledge about possibilities for sampling ...