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dA critical check-list of novel fungal taxa having original localities; in the arid Middle East region and introduced between 1940 and 2000 is presented. The list considers 246 taxonomic units at the species and subspecies levels. The taxa are grouped according to major Classes of Fungi. For each taxon the reference. country of origin and the nature of the original substratum are provided. The nomenclatural status of invalid names with an indication of the relevant article of the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature is specified. The changes in taxonomic position are also reported with the relevant reference.

All major taxonomic groups are represented in this body of novel taxa but in varying proportion. Anamorphic fungi and the Ascomycetes (95 and 85 units, respectively) comprise 70.7% of taxa considered. The Basidiomycetes have a comparatively limited relative weight (37 units). As expected, the Oomycetes and the Zygomycetes are underrepresented with respectively, 12 and 8 units, but they stand ahead of the three remaining groups, viz Chytridiomycetes, Agonomycetes and Myxomycetes.

The contribution also includes a selection of major recent titles on the biodiversity of the fungi in this region. Few of these publications have a regional character but most relate to a specific country of the area. The check-list and the accompanying bibliography is intended to stimulate the taxonomic research on the mycobiota of this particular and region. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.