Fungal world embodies diversified groups which colonize, multiply and survive in nature on many macro- and micro-ecological niches and substrates. Fungi are eukaryotic, achlorophyllous, filamentous or unicellular living organisms which are ubiquitous and cosmopolitan in distribution. Of the estimated 1.5 million fungal species, more than 98,000 fungal species have been described. Approximately 28,000 fungal species are reported from India. The fungi play an important role in biodegradation, recycling of organic matter, pharmaceutical industries, agriculture, medicine, industry, bioremediation, waste management and other activities. In India hardly we have database but for few a books on Indian fungi, compiled from time to time by some mycologists. The present book includes 16 chapters contributed by eminent mycologists. Chapters include data on diversity, taxonomy, ecology and application of Helicosporous fungi, genus Spegazzinia, Rusts and Smuts, Chaetomiaceae, Macrophomina, Rhizoctonia, Russula, wild edible fungi, poisonous mushrooms, insect fungi and other related aspects. This book will be very useful and a valuable addition to the existing literature on the same subject.

The Indian subcontinent has rich biological diversity in the world owing to its vast geographic area, varied topography and climate. It is classified into 10 biogeographic regions. Amongst the 34 hotspots of the world, two are located on Indian land extending into neighboring countries - the Western Ghats / Sri Lanka and the eastern Himalaya.

1. INTRODUCTION 2. ZYGOMYCOTA 3. GLOMEROMYCOT A4. ASCOMYCOT A 5. BASIDIOMYCOTA6. FUNGI FOREST WISE 7. TREE-WISE LIST OF FUNGI 8. BIBLIOGRAPHY Fungus IndexHost Index.

The tropical plant family Pandanaceae comprises three genera, Freycinetia, Pandanus and Sararanga. One-hundred and fourteen genera and 226 species of fungi were found on dead leaves of Pandanaceae collected in Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Fiji, Hawaii, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Mauritius, Nepal, New Zealand, Niue, Philippines, Seychelles, Vanuatu and Vietnam. Taxonomic issues within each fungus genus are discussed and reference made to preceding work. All species are written up with bibliographic details, relevant measurements of the current specimens, known habitat and distribution, collection details, and a discussion on taxonomic conclusions. New taxa (4 genera, 35 species) are fully described and illustrated, each with a plate showing relevant macro- and microscopic details. Keys and/or synoptic tables are provided to all species in 28 genera. In addition, details on almost 700 species of fungi described and recorded worldwide from the Pandanaceae are listed.

Charles Robert Darwin was born on 12th February, 1809 in Shrewsbury, England. Darwin shares his birthday with U. S. President Abraham Lincoln. Both were crusaders against slavery: Darwin disliked slavery and Lincoln abolished it. Darwin was a born naturalist and showed keen interest in nature from the very beginning. A breakthrough came when he was selected as a naturalist on the H. M. S. Beagle ship. His ?ve year voyage on the Beagle started in 1931 and was completed in 1936. This was followed by publication of his research ?ndings that challenged creationist views of the church. Darwin conducted a study of fossils and geological records and concluded rightly, that all life forms emerged over millions of years of evolution through the force of natural selection. In 1959 Darwin published his work on evolution in a book titled “On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection or the Preservation of Favored Races”. The book was received as a scienti?c bomb shell and has since changed the human understanding of life forever. Today Darwin’s ideas on evolution provide foundation to modern biology. Darwin died of a heart attack on the 19th April 1882 and was buried in Westminster Abbey near the grave of Sir Isaac Newton. The scienti?c community is celebrating Darwin’s bicentenary worldwide in honor of his ingenuity, scienti?c thought, conviction and courage.