This book identifies all the species of slime molds one is likely to encounter, with extensive information on their structural features, distribution, and ecological associations. Superbly illustrated, including keys, it is an introduction to their biology as well as a field guide.

The Pictorial Atlas of Soilborne Fungal Plant Pathogens and Diseases describes the soilborne fungal diseases caused by Oomycetes, Zygomycetes, Ascomycetes, Basidiomycetes, and Deuteromycetous (Anamorphic) fungi. Soilborne fungal diseases are significant as both environmental and agricultural problems, yet it is difficult to understand the ecology of pathogenic fungi and its effective control. This book provides very detailed information on many of the commonly and not so commonly encountered groups of soilborne fungi diseases. It will be a useful reference for those teaching and conducting research in mycology, plant pathology, soilborne plant diseases, and the ecology of fungal communities.

"...a number of chapters provide excellent summaries of the modern methods available for studying fungal ecology, along with those more traditional methods that are still extremely valuable...overall it is a hugely valuable compendium of fungal ecology research. It is a must for the library shelf." -Lynne Boddy, Cardiff University, UK, Mycological Research, 2006 "These 44 chapters are an excellent starting point for anyone interested in fungal communities, in the broadest sense of the term. It is a book for dipping into...may be the last comprehensive treatment of fungal communities before the molecular revolution." -Meriel Jones, University of Liverpool, UK, Microbiology Today "... the scope of the work is tremendous. ... Excellent chapters providing overviews of methods ... provide a snap shot of the current approaches used to understand fungal communities at several levels of organization. This book should probably be on the shelf of every student of mycology, and many ecologists too. For all students, this book should be a valuable resource and source of inspiration." -Daniel Henk, Imperial College Faculty of Medicine, London, in Inoculum, Vol. 59, No. 3, May 2008 "Thorough taxonomic and subject indices further aid the reader in navigating through multiple authors' treatments of subjects of interest." - Anthony Amend, Department of Botany, University of Hawaii at Manoa in Economic Botany, V. 61 In all subjects in science, new findings and the use of new technologies allow us to develop an ever-greater understanding of our world. Expanded and updated coverage in the fourth edition includes: Adds new sections on Integrating Genomics and Metagenomics into Community Analysis, Recent Advances in Fungal Endophyte Research, Fungi in the Built Environment, and Fungal Signaling and Communication Includes a broader treatment of fungal communities in natural ecosystems with in-depth coverage of fungal adaptations to stress and conservation Expands coverage of the influence of climate change on fungi and the role of fungi in organically polluted ecosystems Includes contributions from scientists from 20 nations to illustrate a true global approach for bridging gaps between ecological concepts and mycology

With high-quality genome sequences for the important and ubiquitous Aspergilli now available, increased opportunities arise for the further understanding of its gene function, interaction, expression, and evolution. The Aspergilli: Genomics, Medical Aspects, Biotechnology, and Research Methods provides a comprehensive analysis of the research that reveals the main biological attributes of these species. The co-editors are a particularly proficient and prolific pair with long track records of scientific productivity.

The book sets the stage with a discussion of basic biology, examining the data on the structure of genomes and comparing the genetic map and annotation methodology. It includes a comparison of metabolic abilities among different "Aspergillus spp." and other species, then covers areas such as comparative biology, pathogenic properties, and metabolic capabilities of the Aspergilli. The book reviews established techniques and new methodologies for the post-genomic erain "Aspergillus spp," It comes with a CD containing color illustrations to supplement the text.

Filling the need for centralized information on a genus that has important economic impacts on agriculture, human health, industry, and pharmacology, the book presents a wide range of data, collected and arranged into one convenient resource. Written by a team of international experts, this is the first in-depth and exhaustive analysis of the genomics of the Aspergilli.

The book begins with a chapter on Molecular Evolution and Phylogeny of mycorrhizas. Lucid discussions on cellular physiology, molecular genetics, and molecular regulation of nutrient exchange phenomenon in mycorrhizas form the core of this book. A comparative analysis of the molecular aspects of symbiosis and pathogenesis has been presented in detail. It also includes certain agriculturally useful aspects of disease control via mycorrhizas. Discussions on recent developments in molecular ecology of mycorrhizas, including most recently enunciated concepts such as ?nurse functions?, ?mycoheterotrophy? are provided in the book. Transformation, transgenics and genetic engineering of mycorrhizas is a unique and futuristic chapter. Applications of genetic engineering of mycorrhizas, as well as recently developed techniques of genetic transformation production of viable transgenic mycorrhizal fungi have been delineated. It will be useful to researchers/students involved in Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Plant Bio

The final volume in a series for mycologists, microbiologists, biotechnologists, and others scientists, from advanced undergraduate to professional, who are concerned with fungal infection in medicine, agriculture, food, and industrial processes. Summarizes the current knowledge on the causal intera

Anemones and fish, ants and acacia trees, fungus and trees, buffaloes and oxpeckers--each of these unlikely duos is an inimitable partnership in which the species' coexistence is mutually beneficial. More specifically, they represent examples of defensive mutualism, when one species receives protection against predators or parasites in exchange for offering shelter or food to its partner species. Explores the Diverse Range of Defensive Mutualisms Involving Microbial Symbionts The past 20 years, since this phenomenon first began receiving attention, have been marked by a deluge of research in a variety of organism kingdoms and much has been discovered about this intriguing behavior. Defensive Mutualism in Microbial Symbiosis includes basic ecological and biological information on defensive mutualisms, explores how they function, and evaluates how they have evolved. It also looks at the implications of symbiosis defensive compounds as a new frontier in bioexploration for drug and natural product discovery--the first book to explore this possibility. Chapters Written by Field Authorities The book expands the concept of defensive mutualisms to evaluate defense against environmental abiotic and biotic stresses. Addressing the topic of defensive mutualisms in microbial symbiosis across this wide spectrum, it includes chapters on defensive mutualistic associations involving multiple kingdoms of organisms in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems--plant, animal, fungi, bacteria, and protozoans. Defensive Mutualism in Microbial Symbiosis unifies scattered findings into a single compendium, providing a valuable reference for field researchers and those in academia to assimilate and acquire a knowledgeable perspective on defensive mutualism, particularly those involving microbial partners.