Fungi research and knowledge grew rapidly following recent advances in genetics and genomics. This book synthesizes new knowledge with existing information to stimulate new scientific questions and propel fungal scientists on to the next stages of research. This book is a comprehensive guide on fungi, environmental sensing, genetics, genomics, interactions with microbes, plants, insects, and humans, technological applications, and natural product development.

The population genetics and speciation of fungi is a rapidly developing field, heavily dependent upon the use of molecular markers. This text describes the methodologies employed in this area and, for the benefit of the non-mycological reader, a brief introduction to basic fungal biology.

The population genetics and speciation of fungi is a rapidly developing field, heavily dependent upon the use of molecular markers. This text describes the methodologies employed in this area and, for the benefit of the non-mycological reader, a brief introduction to basic fungal biology.

Fungi are among the most versatile and diverse groups of organisms in their morphology, life cycles, and ecology. This has provided endless fasci nation and intrigue to those who have studied fungi, but it has also made it difficult to understand fungal biology from the perspective of the broader fields of evolution, ecology, genetics, and population biology. That is changing. Details of fungal biology have been elucidated at an exciting pace, increasingly allowing us to understand fungi on the bases of general biological principles. Moreover, many who study fungi have lately emulated some of the great mycologists and plant pathologists of the early years in applying an insight born of broad perspective. This change has been particularly apparent in fungal population biology. In this book, many of those at the forefront of that change summarize, integrate and comment on recent developments and ideas on populations of fungi. By taking a broad perspective, they show how new information on fungi may contribute to concepts and ideas of biology as a whole. Just as important, they contribute to further invigoration of fungal population research by illuminating mycology with new ideas and concepts, derived in part from other biological fields.

This new edition of The Fungi provides a comprehensive introduction to the importance of fungi in the natural world and in practical applications, from a microbiological perspective.

The variety of the mycological world is far greater than most people imagine. Tens of thousands of fungal species have been described and many more are known only from the abundance of their genes in soil and water. Fungi are hugely important as agents of wood decay in forests, and, as parasites, they have caused the deaths of millions of people by ravaging crops and reshaping natural ecosystems. Fungi perform a variety of essential functions in ecosystems, and are important to both agriculture and biotechnology. Their importance is now becoming better appreciated among scientists, though there is much still to be understood concerning their taxonomy and evolution. This Very Short Introduction highlights the variety and extraordinary natures of fungi, revealing the remarkable facts of fungal biology and the global significance of these enchanting organisms. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Forests of the Pacific Northwest have been an epicenter for the evolution of truffle fungi with over 350 truffle species and 55 genera currently identified. Truffle fungi develop their reproductive fruit-bodies typically belowground, so they are harder to find and study than mushrooms that fruit aboveground. Nevertheless, over the last five decades, the Corvallis Forest Mycology program of the Pacific Northwest Research Station has amassed unprecedented knowledge on the diversity and ecology of truffles in the region. Truffle fungi form mycorrhizal symbioses that benefit the growth and survival of many tree and understory plants. Truffle fruit-bodies serve as a major food souce for many forest-dwelling mammals. A few truffle species are commercially harvested for gourmet consumption in regional restaurants. This publication explores the biology and ecology of truffle fungi in the Pacific Northwest, their importance in forest ecosystems, and effects of various silvicultural practices on sustaining truffle populations. General management principles and considerations to sustain this valuable fungal resource are provided.