Fungi are a diverse group of organisms, studied widely because of their commercial importance in biotechnology, agriculture and medicine, and because they provide simple model systems for illuminating the eukaryotic mode of life. The development of the techniques of molecular biology has opened up new areas of mycological research, with profound consequences such as the sequencing of the first entire eukaryotic genome. This book focuses on the application of molecular and cell biology to mycology and presents examples of how these approaches are elucidating long-held problems in areas as diverse as animal and plant pathology, protein expression and evolution. Aimed at advanced undergraduates taking courses in mycology, applied biology, biotechnology, fungal biology and fungal genetics, this textbook will also serve postgraduates needing an introduction to modern fungal research.

This book presents topical research from across the globe in the study of the types, properties and nutrition of mushrooms. It discusses topics that include edible mushroom role in weight regulation; disease control in the mushroom industry; sustainable use of microbial endophytes; hemolytic lectins of higher mushrooms; radioactivity of European wild growing edible mushrooms; co-cultivation of pleurotus species with yeasts; and, biologically active mushroom proteins and activation and stabilisation of mushroom tyrosinase by addition of polyethylene glycols.

Fungal Morphogenesis brings together in one book, for the first time, the full scope of fungal developmental biology. The book provides a coherent account of the subject and puts forward ideas that can provide a basis for future research. Throughout, the author blends together physiological, biochemical, structural and molecular descriptions within an evolutionary framework. Sufficient information is provided about fungal biology to give the reader a rounded view of the mycological context within which fungal morphogenesis is played out, without obscuring the broader biological significance. The author is careful to avoid jargon and demystifies technical terms. Written by one of the few people with the necessary breadth of research expertise to deal authoritatively with the wide range of topics presented, this book will appeal to developmental and cell biologists, microbiologists, and geneticists.

The theory of pattern formation, assumed to be applicable to all multicellular organisms, has been developed largely through the study of animal, and to a lesser extent, plant systems. Fungi, members of the third major kingdom of eukaryotes, have not been featured in these studies, although much research of fungal morphology has been undertaken with taxonomic intentions. This first account of the developmental biology of fungal morphogenesis considers whether evidence exists for the action of pattern-forming mechanisms in the development of fungal structures. Chapters on the fruit body, on a range of aspects of the hyphae and the mycelium, and on genetic control and nuclear events in morphogenesis provide new insights into the mechanisms used in fungal development.

The nutrition of a vegetative fungal colony can be viewed as a web of interconnected processes. In this volume, the author provides a mechanistic basis to the subject, focusing on processes at the plasma membrane, considering the modulating effects of the fungal wall and describing the fate of nutrients entering the fungus. The major emphasis is physiological, but biochemical and molecular biological information has been drawn upon as appropriate to reflect the power of the multifaceted approach and encourage such study further. A comprehensive review of what is known for the more commonly studied fungal species is complemented by information on other fungi to provide an indication of the diversity of nutritional processes which exist in the fungal kingdom.

This book addresses the challenge that the exceptional diversity of tropical fungi present to taxonomists, biochemists, molecular biologists, ecologists, and pathologists. The significance of the many tropical species and ectomycorrhizal associations in nutrient cycling in rainforests, desert ecosystems and aquatic habitats is considered, together with an evaluation of the potential of such fungi in the production of commercially useful, novel metabolites.

Physarum polyccphalum is commonly referred to as a true slime mold, or myxomycete. Providing a basic foundation for the latest work in the cell and developmental biology of true slime molds, these critical essays review five areas of research: nuclear structure, replication, expression, genetics, and differentiation. Originally published in 1980. The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.

The interactions of fungi with mankind are both beneficial and harmful and are deeply rooted in the history of human society and agriculture. Over the centuries humans have sought to manipulate the growth of fungi to their advantage; the methods used, though largely empirical, have often been highly successful. Since the initial development of recombinant DNA technology in bacteria in the early 1970s, biology has been undergoing a molecular revolution which is spreading to all organisms, including fungi. The approach and techniques of molecular biology enable us to ask and answer fundamental questions about many aspects of fungal biology, and open the way to the directed manipulation of fungal metabolism. This book highlights the rapid development of gene transfer and cloning techniques in fungi and the ways in which these are being exploited in species of economic importance either in biotechnology or as plant pathogens.

Based on a British Mycological Society symposium held in September 1988, this book provides a timely review of the increasingly diverse ways in which fungi are being used to improve plant growth and examines the reasons for the rapid advancement in their commercialisation. Reflecting the increasing interest in biocontrol, a significant proportion of the book considers fungi as biocontrol agents, examining their specific use in the control of weeds, parasitic insects and nematodes, and plant pathogenic fungi, as well as covering more general commercial and environmental aspects. Relevant techniques in molecular biology are described and their possible application in this area examined. Chapters on the use of mutualistically symbiotic mycorrhizal fungi for the improvement of plant growth are also included.

Process development in antibiotic fermentation is of microbiological and commercial importance and this book gives a consistent, modern treatment of the area. It is divided into three parts: the first deals with the scientific background to the subject, the second with process development in the laboratory and the third with industrial fermentation plants and pilot plants. The discussion shows how problems change as processes are scaled up and yields increase. The book is written from a practical angle and examples of development work are given to support the background information. It will be particularly useful to students of applied microbiology and to those postgraduate microbiologists who are widening their experience with the development of antibiotic fermentations in relation to the production plant, both as a lecturer and as an industrial consultant and he has made use of his wide knowledge of all these areas in this book.

Physarum polyccphalum is commonly referred to as a true slime mold, or myxomycete. Providing a basic foundation for the latest work in the cell and developmental biology of true slime molds, these critical essays review five areas of research: nuclear structure, replication, expression, genetics, and differentiation. Originally published in 1980. The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.

Although there are many texts that provide quality information for the identification of fungi, researchers and technologists rarely have time to read the text. Most are rushed for time and seek morphological information that helps guide them to the identification of fungi. The Atlas of Clinically Important Fungi provides readers with an alphabetical list of fungi as well as listing the division of fungi by both sporulation and morphology. The characteristic traits for a particular fungus are displayed through a series of images, with the fungi appearing as they did in the author's lab on the day(s) that testing was performed. For this reason, numerous (6-20) color photographs are included so that technologists will have sufficient reference photos for identifying the various morphologies of a single organism. Organism photographs begin with the macroscopic colony views followed by the microscopic views. Also included for some microorganisms, are clinical pathology photographs demonstrating how the organism appears in human tissues. A collection of literature citations are also provided to enable further reading. This user-friendly fungi atlas provides a resource for those seeking information in the field of medical mycology, specifically with regards to identifying an organism using the parameters of culture morphology.

California and the Western States are rich in abundant and diverse species of mushrooms. Amateur mushroom collectors and mycologists alike will find over 300 species of the region's most common, distinctive, and ecologically important mushrooms profiled in this comprehensive field guide. It provides the most up-to-date science on the role of fungi in the natural world, methods to identify species, and locations of mushroom habitats. With excellent color illustrations showing top and side views of mushrooms of the Western States and a user-friendly text, it is informative but still light enough to be carried into the woods. When used to identify mushrooms, keys bring the reader to individual species, with a descriptive text providing cues for identifying additional species. Mushrooms common in urban landscapes are included, which is especially useful for the casual encounter with backyard fungi. The guide also provides a table of both old and new species names, and information on edibility and look-alikes, both dangerous and benign. A section on mushroom arts and crafts features mushroom photography, painting, philately, spore prints, dyes, and cultivation. The guide also offers a comprehensive list of resources including national field guides, general mushroom books and periodicals, club and society contact information, and web sites. This title includes primary descriptions and illustrations of 300 species of mushrooms plus text descriptions of many more. It features latest word in mushroom taxonomy and nomenclature. It provides clear discussion of DNA sequencing and new classifications. Especially good coverage of southern California and Southwestern mushrooms often neglected in other field guides.

Life in Ancient Ice presents an unparalleled overview of current research into microbial life in ancient glacial ice and permafrost. Particulates of fungi, bacteria, pollen grains, protists, and viruses are carried by wind around the globe. When they fall to Earth in polar regions they may be trapped in ice for hundreds of millennia. Some of the many implications sound like science fiction--for example, might melting glaciers release ancient pathogens that yield modern-day pandemics? But rigorous, coordinated research is nascent. This book points the way forward. Based on a National Science Foundation-sponsored symposium organized by the editors in 2001, it comprises twenty chapters by internationally renowned scientists, including Russian experts whose decades of work has been rarely available in English. The book begins by setting forth many protocols that have been used to study microorganisms trapped in ice, discussing their potential sources and presenting evidence for microbial metabolic activity at temperatures below freezing. This is followed by nine chapters describing the fungi, bacteria, and viruses that have been found in permafrost and glacial ice. Later chapters include a look at Antarctica's subglacial Lake Vostok, at a robot that can be lowered into ice to detect microbes, and at the use of icy environments on Earth as model systems for studying similar environments on planets and moons. The editors conclude by reviewing key discoveries and outlining important areas for future research. Originally published in 2005. The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.

"Castello and Rogers have brought together many of the world's experts on life in icy environments and have produced a most comprehensive and timely compilation of information on this exploding area of research. This book is a useful guide for experts looking for more information on specific environments or protocols and for those whose interest is more casual. It will be a well-thumbed addition to my bookshelf."--Brian Lanoil, University of California, Riverside

"From the icy worlds of Lake Vostok, Antarctica, to the ancient permafrost soils of Siberia, this volume defines and explores the new science of subsurface ice microbiology. The contributing authors describe the diversity and microbiota of ancient ice environments on modern-day Earth, the multiple challenges of deep-ice exploration, and the broader significance of these systems as genetic storehouses and models of preservation and survival under extreme cold. This book captures the excitement of a new frontier in microbial ecology."--Warwick F. Vincent, Laval University, Canada

"The thought of surviving, even prospering, deep within ice and permafrost sent a shiver down my spine. However, for selected microorganisms this is a strategy for long-term survival in one of Earth's most extreme habitats. This authoritative collection of 'cold facts'--the first of its kind--provides a comprehensive account of the occurrence, physiological adaptations, and ecological implications of microbes that are frozen in contemporary time. The implications of this research are broad, reaching from sub-glacial lakes in Antarctica to possible life on Mars, Europa, and beyond. I endorse the editors' conclusion, 'It is a fascinatingstory.'"--David M. Karl, University of Hawaii

"This book represents the first time experts in the field--including some founders of the field, such as those from Russia--have come together in a single volume to discuss the topic of life in ancient ice."--Lloyd Burckle, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University

"This book does a good job of making a case for long-term survival of microorganisms and possible low-temperature metabolism in ice-bound cells. The papers represent a strong collection that illustrates the breadth of work that has been undertaken in this fascinating field in recent years by some of the top researchers in the field. The editors' opening and closing chapters draw together the threads of the contributions and point a way forward in cryosphere research."--Ian Hawes, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, New Zealand

Mycorrhizal symbioses are widespread and fundamental components of terrestrial ecosystems and have shaped plant evolution. Research in this field is rapidly evolving and recent findings have done much to improve our understanding of how these complex plant/fungal associations function. This volume, which is aimed at the scientific community, comprises 14 chapters written by more than 30 international experts for different fields of mycorrhizal research. The chapters provide either in-depth reviews or the results of previously unpublished scientific studies, and certain are illustrated with photos and line drawings. The topics covered are of global interest and include plant-fungal communication, the interaction of mycorrhizal fungi and other soil microorganisms, the use of mycorrhizal fungi in plant-production systems, and the commercial harvesting of edible mycorrhizal forest mushrooms.

Finally, a stand-alone, all-inclusive textbook on yeast biology. Based on the feedback resulting from his highly successful monograph, Horst Feldmann has totally rewritten the contents to produce a comprehensive, student-friendly textbook on the topic. The scope has been widened, with almost double the content so as to include all aspects of yeast biology, from genetics via cell biology right up to biotechnology applications. The cell and molecular biology sections have been vastly expanded, while information on other yeast species has been added, with contributions from additional authors. Naturally, the illustrations are in full color throughout, and the book is backed by a complimentary website. The resulting textbook caters to the needs of an increasing number of students in biomedical research, cell and molecular biology, microbiology and biotechnology who end up using yeast as an important tool or model organism.

There is increasing interest in the use of fungi for the control of pests, weeds and diseases. This book brings together perspectives from pathology, ecology, genetics, physiology, production technology, to address the use of fungi as biological control agents.

Water is the solvent for metabolic processes, it participates directly in many biochemical reactions and has a vital skeletal function. It also plays a key role in the behaviour and spread of fungi. The chapters of this book, which was originally published in 1986, give a broad perspective on this vast subject. The contributions were all written by acknowledged experts in their field, and subjects of great practical importance are discussed. The bio-deterioration of plant products, such as foodstuffs, grain and timber, the relationship between weather patterns and the likelihood of disease epidemics and the characteristics of pathogenic and mycorrhizal fungi, are described. Overall the book provides a physiological basis that unites the different aspects of the subject area, which had previously been studied in isolation from each other.

Lichens are symbiotic organisms in which fungi and algae and/or cyanobacteria form an intimate biological union. This diverse group is found in almost all terrestrial habitats from the tropics to polar regions. In this second edition, four completely new chapters cover recent developments in the study of these fascinating organisms, including lichen genetics and sexual reproduction, stress physiology and symbiosis, and the carbon economy and environmental role of lichens. The whole text has been fully updated, with chapters covering anatomical, morphological and developmental aspects; the contribution of the unique secondary metabolites produced by lichens to medicine and the pharmaceutical industry; patterns of lichen photosynthesis and respiration in relation to different environmental conditions; the role of lichens in nitrogen fixation and mineral cycling; and the use of lichens as indicators of air pollution. This is a valuable reference for both students and researchers interested in lichenology.

Process development in antibiotic fermentation is of microbiological and commercial importance and this book gives a consistent treatment of the area. It is divided into three parts: the first deals with the scientific background to the subject, the second with process development in the laboratory and the third with industrial fermentation plants and pilot plants. The discussion shows how problems change as processes are scaled up and yields increase. The book is written from a practical angle and examples of development work are given to support the background information. It will be particularly useful to students of applied microbiology and to those postgraduate microbiologists who are widening their experience with the development of antibiotic fermentations in relation to the production plant, both as a lecturer and as an industrial consultant and he has made use of his wide knowledge of all these areas in this book.

Lichens are symbiotic organisms in which fungi and algae and/or cyanobacteria form an intimate biological union. This diverse group is found in almost all terrestrial habitats from the tropics to polar regions. In this second edition, four completely new chapters cover recent developments in the study of these fascinating organisms, including lichen genetics and sexual reproduction, stress physiology and symbiosis, and the carbon economy and environmental role of lichens. The whole text has been fully updated, with chapters covering anatomical, morphological and developmental aspects; the contribution of the unique secondary metabolites produced by lichens to medicine and the pharmaceutical industry; patterns of lichen photosynthesis and respiration in relation to different environmental conditions; the role of lichens in nitrogen fixation and mineral cycling; and the use of lichens as indicators of air pollution. This is a valuable reference for both students and researchers interested in lichenology.

Fungi play important roles in the cycling of elements in the biosphere but are frequently neglected within microbiological and geochemical research spheres. Symbiotic mycorrhizal fungi are responsible for major transformations and redistribution of inorganic nutrients, while free-living fungi have major roles in the decomposition of organic materials, including xenobiotics. Fungi are also major biodeterioration agents of stone, wood, plaster, cement and other building materials, and are important components of rock-inhabiting microbial communities. The aim of this book is to promote further understanding of the key roles that free-living and symbiotic fungi (in mycorrhizas and lichens) play in the biogeochemical cycling of elements, the chemical and biological mechanisms that are involved, and their environmental and biotechnological significance. Where appropriate, relationships with bacteria are also discussed to highlight the dynamic interactions that can exist between these major microbial groups and their integrated function in several kinds of habitat.

Fungal Morphogenesis brings together in one book, for the first time, the full scope of fungal developmental biology. The book provides a coherent account of the subject and puts forward ideas that can provide a basis for future research. Throughout, the author blends together physiological, biochemical, structural and molecular descriptions within an evolutionary framework. Sufficient information is provided about fungal biology to give the reader a rounded view of the mycological context within which fungal morphogenesis is played out, without obscuring the broader biological significance. The author is careful to avoid jargon and demystifies technical terms. Written by one of the few people with the necessary breadth of research expertise to deal authoritatively with the wide range of topics presented, this book will appeal to developmental and cell biologists, microbiologists, and geneticists.