Fungi

Ramesh Maheshwari received his PhD degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He did his postdoctoral work at the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor and at Stanford University, California. He has held academic appointment as a professor of biochemistry at the Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore. He is the author of Fungi: Experimental Methods in Biology and over 100 scientific papers on fungal and plant physiology. The thrust of his research over a span of 35 years was on the physiology and enzymes of thermophilic fungi and the genetics and ecology of Neurospora.

"… Following in the footsteps of its highly-praised predecessor, this book continues to be a comprehensive review of the state of our knowledge about how fungi function."—Northeastern Naturalist, December 2012Praise for the First Edition:"…an important volume. …a comprehensive review of the state of our knowledge about how fungi function as individuals, populations, and members of the global economy of nature. Maheshwari has done an exemplary job. …the integration of information from such a broad area and the general clarity of presentation found in this volume deserve wide readership among mycologists, plant pathologists, geneticists, and molecular biologists."—David S. Yohalem, East Malling Research, Kent, UK "The book is simply written and easy to digest, which is aided by the consistent editorial style throughout the book."—N. Louise Glass, Mycopathologia, 2006 "The most important feature of the book is its comprehensive nature…. This book, in describing the modernization of mycology that has come from advances in biochemistry, genetics, and molecular biology, will serve as an excellent introduction and reference for students and investigators having a background in these subjects and a particular interest in the fungi…. As such, the book sets an agenda for fungal research in the 21st century." —Rowland H. Davis, University of California, Irvine "It should prove useful both for undergraduate students and postgraduate researchers." —David J. Adams, Microbiology Today

• The Unique Features of Fungi: The Hyphal Mode of Life. The Multinuclear Condition. Spores: Their Dormancy, Germination, and Uses. Fungi in Biosphere and Human Health: Fungi as Scavengers. Fungi as Symbiotic Partners. Fungi as Plant Pathogens. Fungi as Chemical Factories. Gene Silencing: Transformation and Discovery of Gene-Silencing Phenomena. Model Organisms: Yeast: A Unicellular Paradigm for Complex Biological Processes. Neurospora: A Gateway to Biology. Aspergillus nidulans: A Model for Study of Form and Asexual Reproduction. Ustilago maydis and Other Fungi as Models of Sexual Reproduction. Adaptations: Photoresponses and Circadian Rhythm. Thermophilic Fungi: Eukaryotic Life at High Temperature. Populations: Species-Their Diversity and Populations. Senescence. A Glossary of Mycological and Interdisciplinary Terms. Appendix: Naming, Defining, and Broadly Classifying Fungi. Index.