Fungal Biodiversity

Fungal Biodiversity focuses on techniques for isolation, cultivation, molecular, and morphological study of fungi and yeasts. It has been developed as a general text, which is based on the annual mycology course given at the CBS-KNAW Fungal Biodiversity Centre (Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures). This manual provides an introduction to systematic mycology, starting with a concise treatise of Hyphochytridiomycota and Oomycota, which have long been subjects of study by mycologists, but are now classified in the Kingdom Chromista. These are followed by sections on the groups of “true fungi:” Chytridiomycota, Zygomycota, Ascomycota, and Basidiomycota. This descriptive part is illustrated by figures of life cycles and schematic line drawings as well as photoplates depicting most of the structures essential for the study and identification of these fungi. Special attention is given to basic principles of working with axenic cultures, good morphological analysis, and complicated issues for beginners such as conidiogenesis and the understanding of life cycles.

In a chapter on general methods a number of basic techniques such as the preparation and choice of media, microscopic examination, the use of stains and preparation of permanent slides, and herbarium techniques are explained. Further chapters deal with commonly used molecular and phylogenetic methods and related identification tools such as BLAST and DNA Barcoding, fungal nomenclature, ecological groups of fungi such as soilborne and root-inhabiting fungi, water molds, and fungi on plants and of quarantine importance. Some topics of applied mycology are also treated, including fungi in the air and indoor environment and fungi of medical importance. Common mycological terminology is explained in a glossary, with references to illustrations in the book. A chapter providing more than 60 mycological media for fungal cultivation and a comprehensive list of cited references are also provided. The book is concluded with an index and dendrograms reflecting our current understanding of the evolutionary relationships within the Fungi.