Product Description
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. ... Read more

Product Description
Fungi: Biology and Applications is a comprehensive, balanced introduction of the biology, biotechnological applications and medical significance of fungi. With no prior knowledge of the subject assumed, the opening chapters offer a broad overview of the basics of fungal biology, in particular the physiology and genetics of fungi. Later chapters move on to include more detailed coverage of topics such as proteomics, bioinformatics, heterologous protein expression, medical mycology, anti-fungal drug development and function, fungal biotechnology and fungal pathogens of economically important plants.
Carefully structured, each chapter contains self-assessment exercises with answers included at the end of the book to enhance student understanding.
* A comprehensive treatment of the medical and economic importance of fungi to everyday life
* Chapters include revision sections and problems to reinforce key concepts
* Invaluable for undergraduates taking a first course on fungal biology or mycology.
* also of interest to those working within the field looking for an up-to-date introduction. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Fungi Biology and Application
This is a nice book that is written to facilitate teaching the subject. I will encourage anybody with interest in Mycology to get a copy. I am happy that you delivered the book on time and in good shape ... Read more

Product Description
The award-winning Our Living World series emphasizes the fascinating patterns in the natural world, enabling readers to discover their own place in the network of life. Each book includes chapters on unique characteristics of the organism, senses, metabolism, reproduction and growth, food webs and food chains, fitting into the web of life. Introductions by John Behler, New York Zoological Society.

Grades 4-8; 8 1/2 x 11; 64 pages; Sturdy library binding; Classification Charts; Glossary; Further Reading; Index; 50-55 full-color photos and art pieces ... Read more

Product Description
Fungi have come into demand as sources of biological control agents and of particular physiological active substances. Recent studies indicate that fungi can be the prime cause of sinusitis, asthma, and allergenic troubles. Some fungi can be useful however, and can be used to improve the overall quality of human life. With very few books available on the subject of soil and seed fungi, Tsuneo Watanabe's book remains the only work that details information on techniques for isolating, culturing, and identifying soil and seed fungi. This new edition of Pictorial Atlas of Soil and Seed Fungi describes more than 350 fungal species, including:-46 Mastigomycetous species-33 Zygomycetous species-36 Ascomycetous species -9 Basidiomycetous species-240 Deuteromycetous speciesIn this atlas, Watanabe presents the results of his soil-borne plant disease studies including pathological and mycological aspects. The Pictorial Atlas of Soil and Seed Fungi, Second Edition includes 45 new fungal species illustrated in brilliant detail using original photomicrographs and line drawings. ... Read more

Product Description
Interest in endophytic fungi--fungi that live within plants--has surged in recent years. Although these fungi are not fully understood, evidence suggests that they can offer significant benefits to their host plants including an increased resistance to disease and herbivory, and the stimulation of seed growth. For scientists, biotechnology companies, farmers, plant breeders, and foresters, studying the relationship between endophytic fungi and their hosts may lead to new methods of battling crop disease, the discovery of novel chemical compounds, and clues to the impact of these fungi on biodiversity.

To create a framework for future research, Endophytic Fungi in Grasses and Woody Plants: Systematics, Ecology, and Evolution presents the most extensive set of information on endophytic fungi available in a single source. Covering endophytes that live in the grasses and woody plants of North America, South America, and Europe, these articles bring together descriptions of endophytic relationships, definitions of major concepts, and reports on recent studies. The authors examine a range of topics, including differences between endophytic colonization and latent infection, manipulating endophytes to control disease, effects of pollution and other human activities on endophytic communities, evolutionary adaptations, host specificity, host-endophyte interactions, biochemistry, physiology, morphology, and occurrence. Their discussions review methods of isolation, sampling, analysis, and identification that scientists have tailored to meet the special demands of conducting research on endophytic fungi and include extensive taxonomic listings, tables, and graphs.

As a unique reference on a subject of growing interest, this volume will guide scientists as they pursue new research on topics from the role of endophytic fungi in defending plants against grazing animals to ways these fungi can be manipulated to enhance crop productivity. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

This book was not to my taste. Other People might enjoy it.
The plot of this book is certainly an interesting concept, and it would not surprise me in the slightest if something similar were to happen sometime in the future. Scientists proceed on their merry way with little to no thought as to consequences, and disaster is far more likely to originate with some well-meaning scientist eager to save the world, than a malicious renegade. The book itself, however, was mundane at best. The characters were not, in my opinion, believable and, though the author did try, the thrills just simply weren't there. This will not be making it onto my top 10 list, I'm afraid.

VERY NICE
Mutated fungal spores are spread throughout Britain and soon enough its covered in the various growths as are the people who come in contact with it. A team is sent in to find a way to stop the rapid spreading. This book was quite fast-paced and tightly written so I actually ended up finishing it sooner than I expected to. A great brisk read and much better than the author's "Slimer".

Who knew that mold can be this entertaining!
I got this paperback a few years ago in Poland, where I browse used books, and where I discovered a ton of great horror writers, and my favorite of them all; Graham Masterton.

Fungus is a fast read. Reading it made me appreciate the clean and safety of my New York City apartment, despite of terrorist threats, cockroaches and my cats yakking up surprises here and there.

Basic synopsis; some lab experiments that make simple fungi reproduce and grow on a massive rate and take over London.

The color, texture, array and lightning speed of contamination of the super strong fungi is too much for people living there, and they are either killed (as when they contract it form air, food or water) depending on the kind of fungus they got, it will either blow up from their stomach or mutate them into a walking mushroom, and make them loose all sense of humanity sooner or later.

It's all up to a bitter writer, whose ex wife was the scientist screwing it all up, and a team of other scientists to save what's left of their country before it's blown to bits by the govt.

Great read really, if you can get your hands on. Despite it all being about science and fungus, it didn't have one boring moment. Kinda reminds me of a Zombie movie here and there, even tho it's a book, because the mutated people were going crazy and hunting those who haven't changed. I had a marvelous time reading it.

The Fungus will grow on you.
Jane Wilson is a mycologist (study of fungus) who is trying to solve world hunger by developing an oversized, protein rich mushroom.Unfortunately for the rest of London, they find out what messing with nature can do.

There are over 100,000 varieties of fungus know to man, and thanks to Jane, they are all spreading out of control.Brilliant colors of soft molds are covering almost everything.Nothing is safe, buildings, paper, electronics, animals, and humans.

Jane's husband is "volunteered" by the British military to find is wife's notes, so they can find a cure.Barry Wilson, is a former mycologist himself, and currently writes detective novels.He is coupled with Terenced Slocock, a crazed military Sergeant, and Kimberly Fairchild, a tropical mycologist.These three people are the last chance Britain has, before the world makes good on their threat of a "nuclear" fix to the problem.

This book is a very entertaining read.I find it quite unfortunate that it is out of print.If you can find a used copy someplace, it is worth the few bucks to add it to your collection.It was also previously release as a paperback call "Death Spore". ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

From the Inside Jacket
"The strange and beautiful world of mushrooms and fungi is described in this book.Attractively illustrated in 104 color photographs, there are edible mushrooms, with hints on cooking them, poisonous fungi, toadstools, weird bracket fungi and sinister fungi."

A Mushroom Wonder Book
This short book is a picture-book about the wonders of mushrooms and fungi.It is written for British readers, so it features mushrooms from Britain rather than North American or Europe.The author assures us that "a very large number of fungi are edible," and laments the fact that British people consume far fewer wild mushrooms than Scandinavians or Russians do. She notes that "the general opinion as to whether a certain fungus is fit to eat or not depends very much on the part of the world in which one happens to reside."She doesn't highlight the fact, however, that with some species, the same mushroom can be harmless when grown in one part of the world and quite poisonous in another.Here in North America, we've heard stories of European immigrants and visitors who go out mushroom hunting in our forests and end up preparing for themselves their last supper, due to ignorance about our mushrooms.Those in the know tell us that anyone can learn to identify edible European mushrooms safely, but only a real woods expert would try to do the same here, and even then, North American experts stay away from many edible species simply because they have poisonous look-alike cousins.But this text doesn't mention any of this, since its seeming goal is to get British readers more interested in mushroom hunting in British forests.

The other goal of the book is to astound readers with wondrous mushroom photography.Each page contains one or more large format color pictures, drawn from several public and private collections.The photos are organized more by color and shape than by mushroom family.Instead of portraying a prototypical example of the species, some of the pictures are chosen because they display rare characteristics, such as being a "Siamese twin" specimen.While most of the mushrooms can be found in Britain, a few are depicted from as far away as Malaysia because of exotic properties such as bioluminescence.British readers may find the book useful for limited identification purposes, but North American readers will want to find a more localized guidebook for identification.Nevertheless, North American readers may enjoy the mushroom photography and simple text as general background about mushrooms and fungi. ... Read more

Product Description
This is the one essential handbook for all who work with or are interested in fungi (including lichens, slime moulds and yeasts). This new edition, with more than 20,500 entries, provides the most complete listing of generic names of and terms used to describe fungi available. For each genus, the authority, the date of publication, status, systematic position, number of accepted species, distribution, and key references are given. Diagnoses of families, orders and higher categories are included for most groups. In addition, there are biographic notes, information on well-known metabolites and mycotoxins, and broad accounts of almost all pure and applied aspects of the subject (including citations of important literature). All information has been updated as necessary since the publication of the eighth edition in 1995. In addition the ninth edition has the following new features: a refined classification of fungal phyla reflecting the latest molecular evidence, including a major revision of the classification of the Ascomycota; a full integration of anamorphic genera in the classification; a revised synopsis of the proposed classification. ... Read more

Product Description
Mycologists now look at the genes of fungi to decipher many features that they have been studying in the past beyond just looking at the morphology and other such traits of these organisms. Fungi are also attracting the attention of scientists in various other disciplines. These include the search for useful fungi in various extreme environments that may be useful in other ways such as for their therapeutic value. Fungi are known to produce low molecular weight compounds and several cholesterol-lowering ones like the statins. Compounds such as the cytochalasins, peptaibols, grisan and scirpene derivatives are found only in fungi. Nanotechnology has opened many new areas of research including the use of microorganisms in the biosynthesis of nano-materials, including fungi. This volume aims to bring together what we know about the fungi from different environments. It comprises of 14 chapters written by experts in their chosen area of specialization and covers fungi from various environments such as air, water (freshwater and marine), palaeo-environment, and their influence on the environment and their management. ... Read more

Product Description
The second most expensive food in the world after saffron, truffles are treasured, coveted, and savored for their mysterious and exotic flavor. This complete field guide shows chefs and fungi aficionados how to forage for and identify the wide variety of truffles that grow in temperate forests throughout North America. Written by expert horticulturalists who have studied, classified, and enjoyed truffles for decades, the FIELD GUIDE TO NORTH AMERICAN TRUFFLES makes these celebrated underground jewels accessible to all. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

the book all chef's need
I'm a chef, and this book teaches you how to achieve full understanding of the american truffle.The costs that you will save are incrediable.The pictures are wonderful and descripions are full and informative. the only down side is that all have not been reviwed and some you need to study under a microscope, to find out weather edible or not.

Great book one that i will ue always

Treasure hunting!
This is book for those that cook and are looking for new adventures! Detailed descriptions of what and where to look. I do not agree with every review, so take a chance and decide for yourself. Its an adventure! Great book, new hobby.

a great little book
Okay, I have to admit I was amazed that there are so many truffle species in the US.I've been hunting mushrooms for decades; but it never really dawned on me to dig around for truffles.I did find and eat some truffles when I planted pine trees in northern Alabama years ago; but never gave them much more thought.I'll add a small rake to the equipment I lug around on my forays in the woods this year.I thank the authours for opening up a new passion for me.I especially like the attention to the spore colours and shapes.This is the book to get if you're interested in these little gems

No, not THAT kind of truffles...
If you're thinking of picking this up just so you can jaunt out to the woods and grab some food for dinner, you might want to think twice--given the number of inedible fungi out there (some toxic), the authors do recommend that amateurs wanting edible truffles take along a more experienced truffle hunter until they've got the hang of it. If you think that hunting truffles would make a cool hobby however, particularly given the newness of the sport and the possibility for finding and identifying new species, this is an indispensable book to have in your pocket.

Along with an introduction covering plenty of general tips on truffle hunting, the book includes detailed pages on many species of truffle. These include photographs, of course, and it's amazing to discover the vast range of colors, patterns, shapes, sizes, etc. among truffles! The season during which each truffle can be found is noted; for instance, the Trappea darkeri's season is April--November. Distribution comes next, anything from the vague "Western North America" to the incredibly specific "Only in western Oregon and northern California in lowland to foothill forests." Habitat describes, usually, the type of trees under which the truffle variety is found.

Since photos and descriptions sometimes aren't enough for identification, spore information is included as well--starting with a photograph of the spores (generally taken through a microscope). Spore notes include size in micrometers and a general description, and sometimes include notes on the particular dye or solution used to bring out certain features.

"Features" and "Comments" sections provide plenty of information to help you further identify the particular fungus you've found, often including internal physical details found upon cutting the specimen open as well as notes on odor and culinary value.

Finally, each entry ends with a brief section labeled simply "DR" for "desirability rating," or how desirable the NATS has deemed the truffle to be for culinary uses. This ranges from unknown or inedible to the entertaining label of `insipid', the damning-with-faint-praise `palatable,' and finally a rare few species labeled tasty or delicious.

If you think you you'd be interested in digging up some truffles, this is an absolutely invaluable little book for helping you to figure out what you've got on your hands! ... Read more

Product Description
'When all's said and written, there's nothing better than field mushrooms that you have gathered yourself, on toast, for breakfast.' Jane Grigson, The Mushroom Feast

Customer Reviews (1)

A fine introduction to "la cuisine de champignons sauvages"
A collection of French wild mushroom recipes by British cooking writer Jane Grigson. This book is an excellent source of recipes and inspiration for the use of wild mushrooms, for chefs and experienced home cooks alike. The book has over 200 recipes for wild and domesticated mushrooms of all kinds, both as a main part of the dish and as an accompaniment to meat, fish, and fowl. Particularly useful is a section at the beginning covering some 20 species of mushrooms, describing the unique culinary properties of each and listing the recipes that would suit them best. I particularly like the fact that this book covers not only the "usual suspects", that is, cultivated agaricus, porcini, chanterelles, morels, truffles, etc, but also covers less well-known wild mushrooms like fairy-ring mushrooms, blewitts, grisettes, russulas, etc.

The recipes in "The Mushroom Feast" bear the unmistakable stamp of pre-nouvelle French haute-cuisine (though the book also has a whole chapter of Asian-inspired recipes as well). This has its good and bad sides - good in the sense that the mushrooms are used in in the context of tasty "gourmet" European cooking that I find does justice to the intense flavor of wild mushrooms, but not so good in the sense that it often calls for sauces that are richer in butter, cream, and roux than they need to be. However, with a basic knowledge of sauce-making technique, one can easily turn these into simple reduction sauces that don't overpower the rest of the ingredients.

Some of the editorial reviews mention that this book is a useful guide to distinguish edible and poisonous mushrooms. This book is not, in fact, useful as a field guide and inexperienced persons who go out and gather mushrooms for the table using this book as their only guide do so at their peril! If you are going to be cooking with the mushrooms in this book, one first needs to get some experience in identification of wild mushrooms, or stick with the wild mushrooms you can buy from your local gourmet grocery or farmers' market.

All in all, this is a book that belongs on the shelf of anybody who likes to cook with wild mushrooms. ... Read more

Product Description
The fungi are one of the great groups of living organisms, comparable in numbers of species, diversity and ecological significance with animals, plants, protists and bacteria. This textbook deals with all fundamental and applied aspects of mycology, illustrated by reference to well studied species from major fungal groups. Since the publication of the first edition of The Fungi, there have been many important advances in the field of mycology. This second up-to-date edition has been revised and substantially expanded, and incorporates the application of methods of molecular biology, especially DNA technology to mycology.

KEY FEATURES:
* Question and answer section at the end of each chapter
* Modern classification based on Molecular phylogeny
* Detail of the recent increased understanding of the organelles and processes involved in hyphal growth
* New molecular understanding of mating type genes
* The latest on molecular recognition in the infection process
* The use of DNA technology in engineering plant resistance to fungal diseases
* New section on medical mycology
* Fungal mycology in animals
* The latest on the use of genetically manipulated fungi to produce products earlier obtained from mammals ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

dated, but still useful
Although the first edition copy is somewhat dated, the basic morphological descriptions are still very useful.This is a good introductory mycology book, as long as you promptly read another, more up-to-date version right after reading this one.

Fungi, mysteries and fascinations
This book is a very good overview of the kingdom Fungi. With an easy vocabulary usage, the authors were able to entertain the reader with very well done chapters. Although some of the topics could have been streesed a little deeper, the book is perfect for college students enrolled in classes such as introductory mycoloy and fungal systematics. ... Read more

Product Description
Many of Australia's fungi are brightly colored, some flourescent; some are elegant, others squat; some are fragrant, more still are highly toxic. This book showcases many of these species in all their splendor.

More than two-thirds of the text is devoted to species descriptions. The illustrations for identification include beautiful watercolors by Kay Smith, as well as color photographs and line drawings. This is a major revision of Tony Young's Common Australian Fungi, a Naturalists' Guide, with new illustrations and completely revised species list and keys to reflect recent taxonomic changes. ... Read more