THERES MORE TO A MUSHROOM THAN MEETS THE EYE - MATING STUDIES IN THE AGARICALES

Mating studies and related research are used in discussions of the fol lowing subjects: 1) long-distance mating phenomena, including strain-s pecific ability to dikaryotize mates; 2) the ''biological, species con cept;'' 3) clamp connection suppression in certain long-distance dikar yotization; 4) discrepancies between in vivo and in vitro mating behav ior; 5) independent evolutionary rates of various characters; 6) occur rence and retention of amphithallism; and 7) the role of asexual propa gule production in the mushroom life-cycle. Examples are drawn from se veral genera of Agaricales.