SYMBOLS AND ABBREVIATIONS 9
INTRODUCTION 11
Acknowledgements 13

I. VARIATION OF BASIDIOSPORES 15

1. MATERIALS AND METHODS 15
1.1. Materials and methods used 15
1.2. Number of spore measure-meets required 18
1.3. Effect of the number of specimens studied on research results 22

2. THE COMPLEXITY OF VARIATION IN SPORES 23
2.1. Variation in spores related to ontogeny and
developmental rhythms 24
2.2. Variation due to environmental factors 27
2.3. Variation due to differences in the genotype 29
2.4. Conclusions 31

3. FREQUENCY DISTRIBUTION OF THE VARIATION OF SPORE SIZE 34
3.1. Frequency distribution of the spore variation data at individual level 34
3.2. Frequency distribution of the spore variation data at specific level 37
3.3. Discussion 38

II. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 41

4. GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE SPORES OF THE HYMENOMYCETES STUDIED 41
4.1. The mean spore length 41
4.2. The mean spore width 41
4.3. The mean value of the spore quotient Q 42
4.4. Discussion 42

5. CORRELATION BETWEEN SPORE LENGTH AND SPORE WIDTH 44
5.1. Correlation between spore length and spore width within an individual 44
5.2. Correlation between spore length and spore width at the specific level 45
5.3. Discussion 46

6. DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE MEAN SPORE MEASUREMENTS AND
VARIANCES OF DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE SAME INDIVIDUAL 47
6.1. Comparison of spores in different parts of one pileus 48
6.2. Comparison of spores of different piled having a common stem 48
6.3. Comparison of spores of different basidiomata of a fairy ring 48
6.4. Comparison of spores of basidiomata growing in one
group or in vicinity 56
6.5. Discussion 57

7. CHARACTER OF INTRA-INDIVIDUAL SPORE VARIATION WITHIN A SPECIES 59
7.1. Variability of intra-individual spore variation 60
7.2. Dependence of intra-individual spore variation on
the mean spore length of specimens 60
7.3. Discussion 61

8. MEAN INTRA-INDIVIDUAL SPORE VARIATION 63
8.1. Variation in spore length 63
8.2. Variation in spore width 63
8.3. Correlation between the variations of spore length
and spore width 64
8.4. Similarity of the variations in spore length and
spore width 65
8.5. Variation in spore shape 65
8.6. Discussion 66

9. INTRASPECIFIC SPORE VARIATION 67
9.1. Dependence of intraspecific variability on the size
of the collecting area studied 68
9.2. Variation in spore length 69
9.3. Variation in spore width 69
9.4. Correlation between the variations of spore length
and spore width 70
9.5. Similarity of the variations in spore length and spore width 71
9.6. Variation in spore shape 71
9.7. Correlation between the variations of mean spore
length and spore shape 73
9.8. Similarity of the variations in spore shape, spore
length and spore width 73
9.9. Discussion 74

10. DEPENDENCE BETWEEN INTRASPECIFIC AND MEAN INTRA-INDIVIDUAL VARIATIONS 76
10.1. Variation in spore length 76
10.2. Variation in spore width 76
10.3. Variation in spore shape 77
10.4. Discussion 77

III. BIOLOGICAL MEANING OF THE RESULTS AND THEIR APPLICABILITY IN TAXONOMY 79
11. SIGNIFICANCE OF SPORE SIZE AND SHAPE IN THE
EVOLUTION OF THE HYMENOMYCETES 79

12. BIOLOGICAL MEANING OF INTRA-INDIVIDUAL SPORE
VARIATION. LIMITS OF VARIATION 82

13. INTRASPECIFIC SPORE VARIATION AND ITS RESTRICTIONS . 85

14. EVALUATION OF SPORE VARIABILITY. APPLICATION OF THE ESTIMATES 88
14.1. Criteria of evaluation 88
14.2. Reasons for a very great or a very small variability 92
14.3. On the taxonomy of some Hymenomycetes having very
variable spores 94

15. EVALUATION OF SPORE CHARACTERS IN DISCRIMINATION OF SPECIES 97
15.1. Requirement to take into consideration the difference
between individual and specific levels 97
15.2. How new species of fungi are described nowadays 103

16. COMPARISON OF THE SPORES OF TWO SPECIMENS FOR DETERINING
THEIR SPECIES DIFFERENCE AND SPECIES IDENTITY 105

17. HOW TO PRESENT DATA ON SPORE SIZE AND SHAPE IN SPECIES DESCRIPTIONS 107
17.1. The determination of tolerance limits 108
17.2. Recommendations 111

IV. VARIATION OF SPORES IN THE NON-HYMENOMYCETOUS FUNGI 113

18. VARIATION OF CONIDIA (SPORANGIA) IN THE PERONOSPORALES 113
18.1. Frequency distribution of spore data at the specific level 113
18.2. Correlation between spore length and spore width 118
18.3. Intra-individual spore variation 118
18.4. Intraspecific spore variation 119

19. VARIATION OF CONIDIA IN THE ERYSIPHALES 119
19.1. Frequency distribution of spore data at the individual level 119
19.2. Frequency distribution of spore data at the specific level 120
19.3. Correlation between spore length and spore width at
the individual level 120
19.4. Correlation between mean spore length and mean spore
width at the specific level 120
19.5. Character of intra-individual spore variation at the specific level 121
19.6. Intraspecific spore variation 122

20. VARIATION OF THE UREDIOSPORES AND OF THE TELIOSPORES IN THE UREDINALES 122
20.1. Frequency distribution of spore data at the specific level 122
20.2. Correlation between mean spore length and mean spore
width at the specific level 125
20.3. Intraspecific spore variation 125

21. DISCUSSION. COMPARISON WITH THE VARIATION OF SPORES
IN THE HYMENOMYCETES 125

CONCLUSION 127
LITERATURE 129

APPENDIX 1. Descriptions of new taxa 137
APPENDIX 2. T. Mols. Testing of the population homogeneity 141

Table 35. Tolerance limits of the mean spore size and Q
values in the Hymenomycetes studied 148

Table 36. Mean spore measurements, Q values and their
variation in the Hymenomycetes studied 152

INDEX 163