TRADITIONAL MYCOLOGY AND NEW TECHNOLOGIES - WHICH TAXONOMY FOR THE FUTURE

The author considers the present trends in mycological research, espec ially dealing with taxonomy, systematics and phylogeny. ''Traditional' ' methods seem clearly regressing if compared with molecular methodolo gies, which contribution is undeniable but which limits are still rath er poorly known. On the other hand, the present taxonomical knowledge of the fungal kingdom is very weak and the ecological context very dis quieting. Therefore, it is necessary to develop descriptive studies in the field, before the unknown species become vanished, especially in The Tropics. The purely scientifical argument concerning the basic kno wledge of biodiversity can be strengthened with some applied examples (conservation of species and ecosystems bound to a functional but also taxonomical knowledge; uses of fungi as allies in different topics -b io-indication, pharmacology, biological control, bio-technologies, etc .). The necessity for a balanced co-operation between ''traditional'' and ''modern'' trends of mycology is strongly emphasized.