The family Gnomoniaceae is a little understood family of fungi. They spend most of their life cycle as symptomless endophytes producing fruiting bodies on fallen leaves of trees, shrubs or dead stems of herbs. However, some of the fungi are serious plant pathogens and despite being inconspicuous they are everywhere around us.

Of particular interest to indoor air quality professionals is the fact that a large part of what are reported as "Ascospores" in outside air by environmental laboratories in spring are actually spores of Gnomoniaceae.  Dr. Mikhail Sogonov, a mycologist at EMSL Analytical in Westmont, New Jersey, recently finished an in-depth study of these poorly understood, but important fungi. 

His finding, published by the Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures (CBS) Fungal Biodiversity Centre in the Netherlands, is entitled Leaf-inhabiting genera of Gnomoniaceae, Diaporthales and can be found in Studies in Mycology No. 62.

Dr. Sogonov began his passion for understanding fungi in his native Russia.  He earned his doctorate degree at Moscow State University before coming to the United States.  He has authored 16 publications and has taught or mentored at both Moscow State University and Rutgers University.  His research has been presented at conferences around the globe from Russia to Australia.

EMSL, one of the nation’s largest environmental laboratories, and Dr. Sogonov have put his years of experience along with 10 other Ph.D. microbiologists to work in their Mycology Department.  “We are very proud to have Dr. Sogonov as a member of our elite group of scientists,” reported Robert De Malo, Senior Vice President, Laboratory Services at EMSL Analytical, Inc.  “The benefit to our clients is tremendous and he has once again helped take research from academia into the world of commercial environmental microbiology.” 

Dr. Sogonov can be reached at EMSL Analytical, Inc.  For more information about fungal research into Gnomoniaceae or other environmental testing needs please contact EMSL at.