Introduction to Fungi

Introduction to Fungi I haven't read much scientific literature on fungi after my PhD in 1976. This book is for me a very good re-introduction in this field of science. The third edition appeared in 2006, 27 years after the second edition. Many things have changed in the field of mycology in this period: the introduction of DNA-techniques formed a major break-through in the identification of fungal mycelium and the relationship between mycelium and fruiting bodies like mushrooms, toadstools, puff balls, wood crusts, lichens etc. At the same time DNA has introduced completely new views on the taxonomy, filogeny and evolution of fungi. All these new views are combined in this book with the classic knowledge about fungi, based on light and electron microscope observations, biochemical studies and biological and ecological aspacts. The authors have succeeded in a presentation of the huge material in an attractive way, with numerous drawings and photographs, including 12 full color plates. The book is an excellent starting point for deep specialisation in all aspects of mycology: the text counts for about 700 pages, followed by 120 pages of references to original literature and a subject index of 25 pages.