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Fifth Kingdom - Text Only
Fifth Kingdom - Text Only
Author: Kendrick, B.
Edition/Copyright: 3RD 01
ISBN: 1-58510-022-6
Publisher: Focus Publishing
Type: Paperback
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Preface
Summary
Table of Contents
 
  Preface

"Fungi probably rival flowering plants in their species diversity, and outweigh the animal kingdom. Whilst wielding great destructive power as agents of disease and decay, they drive the global carbon cycle, sustain our forests and grasslands via mycorrhizal associations, and clothe, as lichens, what would otherwise be bare parts of the planet. Their developmentally versatile body forms provide immense scope for industrial exploitation as well as experimentally accessible systems for studying fundamental biological issues. Yet most people's appreciation of fungi stops at mushrooms, mouldy food and fairy tales.

"Challenged by such ignorance, mycologists need to overcome some deeply rooted prejudices. On the one hand, the variety, edibility and toxicity of fungal fruit bodies has always been a source of fascination which can be relied on to deliver new recruits to the cause of mycology, but if that fascination becomes an obsession, the cause is lost.

"On the other hand, mycologists working on disease control, taxonomy or some industrial process often find it difficult to communicate the wider interest of what they are doing. Because of the vicious cycle of neglect, their task is made harder by the need to use �technical' terms: plant scientists can assume that their audience knows what leaves, roots and stems are; mycologists always have to explain what hyphae and mycelium are.

"So there are two images of the mycologist: one of the eccentric amateur, the other of the remote professional working on esoteric problems. Both are damaging."

So writes Professor Alan Rayner, one of mycology's most articulate spokespersons, and it is impossible to disagree with him. Perhaps this book can do something to produce a more balanced understanding and appreciation of fungi among university students and intelligent lay persons. Interest is the best stimulant to learning, and at least some of the stories in this book will surely tickle even the most jaded palate, since the fungal lifestyle is so bizarre, the facts so strange. Science fiction writers, look no further. Plots lie within.

So far, we have described about 100,000 fungi, yet we estimate these to represent less than one-tenth of the Earth's mycota. Part of this book, then, is a celebration of biodiversity: just think, there are over ten thousand species of mushrooms alone. Tragically, the world is gradually losing its biological richness. As a result of human activities, species of living organisms, fungi among them, are being driven irretrievably into extinction every day. We need you, the readers of this book, to help stop those losses. There are many kinds of environmental action: may I urge you to become personally involved in some of them. Our grandchildren will thank us, but only if we succeed.

The CD-ROM which should be used in parallel with this book contains many images of fungi, but I would like you to look out for pictures of fungi that I have found in my own garden, or on the beach below my house. I have emphasized these to show you that if you keep your eyes open, you too should be able to find just as many fungi in your own surroundings

 
  Summary

The Fifth Kingdom 3/e form a compact but comprehensive encyclopedia of all things mycological. Bryce Kendrick, a world-renowned mycologist, explores every aspect of the fungi, from aflatoxin to zoospores, with an accessible blend of verve and wit. The 24 chapters are filled with up-to-date information on classification, yeasts, lichens, spore dispersal, allergies, ecology, genetics, plant pathology, predatory fungi, biological control, mutualistic symbioses with animals and plants, fungi as food, food spoilage and mycotoxins, poisonous and hallucinogenic fungi, medical mycology, antibiotics and organ transplants.

 
  Table of Contents

Introduction

1. Kingdoms, Classification and Biodiversity
2. A Mixed Bag: Protozoan �Pseudofungi' (the so-called "Slime Moulds" -- Phyla Myxostelida, Dictyostelida, Labyrinthulida, and Plasmodiophorida), Chromistan Fungi (Phyla Hyphochytriomycota and Oomycota) Eumycotan Fungi (Phylum Chytridiomycota)
3. Eumycotan Fungi - the mainstream - Phyla (2) Zygomycota and (3) Dikaryomycota
4. Kingdom Eumycota: Phylum 3: Dikaryomycota, Subphylum 1 - Ascomycotina
5. Kingdom Eumycota: Phylum 3: Dikaryomycota, Subphylum 2: Basidiomycotina
6. Yeasts: Polyphyletic Fungi
7. Lichens - Dual (or even triple) Organisms
8. Spore Dispersal in Fungi -- Airborne Spores and Allergies
9. Fungal Physiology
10. Fungal Genetics - Mendelian and Molecular
11. Fungal Ecology
12. Fungal Plant Pathology in Agriculture and Forestry
13. Fungicides
14. Fungi as Agents of Biological Control
15. Fungi Exploiting Microscopic Animals
16. Mutalistic Symbioses Between Fungi and Animals
17. Mycorrhizas: Mutualistic Plant-Fungus Symbioses
18. Fungi as Food: Mycophagy
19. Fungi in Food Processing
20. Food Spoilage by Fungi, and Its Prevention
21. Mycotoxins in Food and Feed
22. Poisonous and Hallucinogenic Mushrooms
23. Medical Mycology
24. Commercial Exploitation of Fungal Metabolites

Glossary

 

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