Taxonomy of wood-inhabiting fungi
Tuomo Niemelä, Juha Kinnunen, Heikki Kotiranta, Otto Miettinen, Pertti Renvall, Dmitry Schigel, Viacheslav Spirin

We are studying a wide range of poroid Basidiomycota, especially boreal and temperate taxa. Otto studies the taxonomy of Antrodiella and related genera, and inner hierarchy of the genus Skeletocutis using multiple gene areas, and with Viacheslav the brown-rot-causing genera in Antrodia complex. The difficult Postia–Oligoporus complex (Antrodia clade) is studied by all of us, partly jointly with KH Larsson’s group (Oslo University) – rDNA sequencing and microscopic analysis of the complex have revealed its heterogeneity. Genus Spongiporus turned out to include more species than previously known – Viacheslav is working on it together with Tuomo. Otto studies the evolutionary history of Trichaptum (Hymenochaetales clade) together with H Kauserud (Oslo University) using multiple gene areas, one problem being the Trichaptum abietinum complex. Splitting of some of these genera is inevitable, and many new species will be described. Juha is revising the taxonomy of Steccherinum. Heikki is mostly working on corticioid groups, but also the heterobasidioid jelly fungi (many papers together with Emilia Pippola). Tuomo and Viacheslav are struggling with a new species in the Aporpium–Protomerulius complex.

PUTTE: A book on Finnish polypore fungi * Polypores, lignicolous fungi

Fungi of the forests with high conservation value in Finland – indicator species
Tea von Bonsdorff, Panu Halme, Seppo Huhtinen, Stefan Jakobsson, Lasse Kosonen, Ilkka Kytövuori, Teppo Rämä and Jukka Vauras

Fungi are excellent forest status indicators. Indicator fungi are not always threatened or exceptionally rare species but many of them require certain characteristics from their growing sites that are important sites for biodiversity and in need of protection. In our project we are compiling a book that helps in interpreting the message fungi are telling us. The focus lies on mycorrhizal fungi (Agaricoid, Boletoid and Ramarioid). Polypores are beyond the scope of this book as there already exist high quality literature on the topic. We will promote indicator fungi to become a new tool in assessing and identifying valuable habitats. Most of the species included in the book are poorly known species and some which have not been included in illustrated field guides. The book describes thoroughly about 150 species both in words and pictures and it offers a scoring method for more than 600 indicators in various forest environments. The book under preparation gives also instructions to both people asking for fungus monitoring and actually carrying out the monitoring work. This work is financied by Koneen Säätiö and on part of puplishing, the Ministry of Environment. This project is a part of Research programme of deficiently known and threatened forest species 2009–2016 (PUTTE II).

PUTTE II: Fungi of the forests with high conservation value - indicator species

Studies in tropical Basidiomycota
Otto Miettinen, Tuomo Niemelä, Marja Härkönen

Otto has made several long expeditions to SE Asia (Indonesia, Singapore, China) and collected some 7000 specimens of mostly aphyllophoroid fungi. Several taxonomic papers have been published, and more are under preparation. Otto carries out his fieldwork in collaboration with LIPI and Andalas University in Indonesia, and the Herbarium at the Singapore Botanic Gardens. One reason for these studies is the threatened state of SE Asian rainforests, and the documentation of their biodiversity before it is too late. Marja and Tuomo have collected and studied agarics and polypores of East Africa, mostly Tanzania, in collaboration with Dar es Salaam University, and a book was published on the topic. Now there is a plan to continue the study of edible mushrooms and their traditional uses in Mozambique.

Threatened and Red Listed Fungi
Tea von Bonsdorff, Veli Haikonen, Seppo Huhtinen, Kaisa Junninen, Maarit Kaukonen, Markku Kirsi, Lasse Kosonen, Heikki Kotiranta, Ilkka Kytövuori, Esteri Ohenoja, Pertti Salo and Jukka Vauras

Working Group for Fungi consists on finnish mycologists, amateurs and members of Metsähallitus and SYKE. It is financed by the Ministry of Environment. The group is responsible for the appliance and evaluation of the IUCN categories for fungi. The new Red List has been published in 2010.

The 2010 Red List of Finnish Species

Myxomycetes
Marja Härkönen, Elina Sivonen, Tuomo Niemelä

Hydnaceous fungi
Kare Liimatainen, Tuomo Niemelä, Tuula Niskanen, Otto Miettinen, Heikki Kotiranta, Mika Toivonen, Ilkka Kytövuori

Ramarioid fungi
Mika Toivonen, Ilkka Kytövuori

Fungi with colorful, extensively branched basidiocarps are referred to as coral fungi. We have been studying the taxonomy, distribution and ecology of these fungi, especially genus Ramaria, applying also molecular methods in our research. It is evident that the number of Ramaria species in Finland is much higher than previously known, including threatened species with predominantly a southern distribution.
PUTTE: Ramaria in Finland - taxonomy and genetic diversity

Taxonomy and ecology of corticioid fungi living on Juniperus
Heikki Kotiranta, Indrek Sell, Reima Saarenoksa