Meredith Blackwell – författare

Insects and fungi have a shared history of association in common habitats where together they endure similar environmental conditions, but only recently have mycologists and entomologists recognized and had the techniques to study the intricacies of some of the associations. This new volume covers "seven wonders of the insect-fungus world" for which exciting new results have become available, often due to the use of new methods that include phylogenetic analysis and development of molecular markers. Eleven chapters of the volume are presented in two sections, "Fungi that act against insects" and "Fungi mutualistic with insects" that cover a number of major themes. Examples of necrotrophic parasites of insects are discussed, not only for biological control potential, but also as organisms with population structure and complex multipartite interactions; a beneficial role for symptomless endophytes in broad-leafed plants is proposed; biotrophic fungal parasites with reduced morphologies are placed among relatives using phylogenetic methods; complex methods of fungal spore dispersal include interactions with one or more arthropods; the farming behavior of New World attine ants is compared with that of humans and the Old World fungus-growing termites; certain mycophagous insects use fungi as a sole nutritional resource; and other insects obtain nutritional supplements from yeasts. Insects involved in fungal associations include--but are not limited to--members of the Coleoptera, Diptera, Homoptera, Hymenoptera, and Isoptera. The fungi involved in interactions with insects may be clustered taxonomically, as is the case for Ascomycetes in the Hypocreales (e.g., Beauveria, Metarhizium, Fusarium), ambrosia fungi in the genera ophiostoma and ceratocystis and their asexual relatives, Laboulbeniomycetes, Saccharomycetes, and the more basal Microsporidia. Other groups, however, have only occasional members (e.g., mushrooms cultivated by attine ants and termites) in such associations. The chapters included in this volume constitute a modern crash course in the study of insect-fungus associations.

There is a significant and increasing interest in using fungi as biocontrol agents for insect pests in agricultural systems, and also a growing interest in the basic biology of insect-fungal associations from the perspective of parasitism, symbiosis, and infection. Vega and Blackwell are well-regarded workers in this field, and they have assembled an impressive short book of ten chapters to cover the most important topics in this field, incorporating new molecular techniques wherever possible. The book should appeal to worker in ecology, entomology, mycology, plant pathology, and biological control and pest management.

Insects and fungi have a shared history of association in common habitats where together they endure similar environmental conditions, but only recently have mycologists and entomologists recognized and had the techniques to study the intricacies of some of the associations. This new volume covers "seven wonders of the insect-fungus world" for which exciting new results have become available, often due to the use of new methods that include phylogenetic analysis and development of molecular markers. Eleven chapters of the volume are presented in two sections, "Fungi that act against insects" and "Fungi mutualistic with insects" that cover a number of major themes. Examples of necrotrophic parasites of insects are discussed, not only for biological control potential, but also as organisms with population structure and complex multipartite interactions; a beneficial role for symptomless endophytes in broad-leafed plants is proposed; biotrophic fungal parasites with reduced morphologies are placed among relatives using phylogenetic methods; complex methods of fungal spore dispersal include interactions with one or more arthropods; the farming behavior of New World attine ants is compared with that of humans and the Old World fungus-growing termites; certain mycophagous insects use fungi as a sole nutritional resource; and other insects obtain nutritional supplements from yeasts. Insects involved in fungal associations include--but are not limited to--members of the Coleoptera, Diptera, Homoptera, Hymenoptera, and Isoptera. The fungi involved in interactions with insects may be clustered taxonomically, as is the case for Ascomycetes in the Hypocreales (e.g., Beauveria, Metarhizium, Fusarium), ambrosia fungi in the genera ophiostoma and ceratocystis and their asexual relatives, Laboulbeniomycetes, Saccharomycetes, and the more basal Microsporidia. Other groups, however, have only occasional members (e.g., mushrooms cultivated by attine ants and termites) in such associations. The chapters included in this volume constitute a modern crash course in the study of insect-fungus associations.

Fungi are associated with a wide variety of other organisms. Ecologist Peter Price has said, “mutualism facilitates adaptive radiation,” and many biologists attribute Earth’s great fungal diversity to such associations. The 3rd edition of The Mycota, Vol. 9: Fungal Associations, has been revised to provide entirely new coverage of fungi and associated organisms in fourteen informative discussions that take advantage of today’s large public databases and modern molecular and data analysis methods. The editors have a keen interest in fungal associations in their own research, and their perspectives from different generations have resulted in an interesting treatment of the subject. Fungal Associations includes updates of classic topics, but also introduces less frequently discussed associations and broader reflections on the nature of fungi and their associates.The volume begins with a look at more than abillion years of fungal evolution and associations through the lens of immunology.Can fungi involved in obligate symbioses be cultivated apart from the host? Genomes help to answer the question. The ultimate intimacy between fungi and certain unrelated organisms has resulted in DNA exchange that can be traced in extant genomes. Fungi and bacteria use volatile compounds to lure participants into interactions. Some viruses modify the phenotype of their fungal hosts and affect host fitness.  Details of interactions between classical examples of fungus—plant symbioses (lichens, several types of mycorrhizae, and toxic endophytes) benefit from advanced microscopic and molecular techniques.Discussions of fungi associated with insects (entomopathogens, a Drosophila model to study entomopathogens), nematode-trappingfungi and their prey, and a group of termite-associated fungi that produce secondary metabolites with potential uses as pharmaceuticals, complete the volume. Fungal Associations is a well-illustrated, thought-provoking resource for specialists and generalists, including researchers, lecturers, and students interested in ecology, evolution, microbiology, and mycology. The volume would be an excellent text for a seminar course for advanced undergraduate or graduate students.

Fungi are associated with a wide variety of other organisms. Ecologist Peter Price has said, “mutualism facilitates adaptive radiation,” and many biologists attribute Earth’s great fungal diversity to such associations. The 3rd edition of The Mycota, Vol. 9: Fungal Associations, has been revised to provide entirely new coverage of fungi and associated organisms in fourteen informative discussions that take advantage of today’s large public databases and modern molecular and data analysis methods. The editors have a keen interest in fungal associations in their own research, and their perspectives from different generations have resulted in an interesting treatment of the subject. 

Fungal Associations includes updates of classic topics, but also introduces less frequently discussed associations and broader reflections on the nature of fungi and their associates.

The volume begins with a look at more than abillion years of fungal evolution and associations through the lens of immunology. Can fungi involved in obligate symbioses be cultivated apart from the host? Genomes help to answer the question.  The ultimate intimacy between fungi and certain unrelated organisms has resulted in DNA exchange that can be traced in extant genomes.  Fungi and bacteria use volatile compounds to lure participants into interactions.  Some viruses modify the phenotype of their fungal hosts and affect host fitness.   Details of interactions between classical examples of fungus—plant symbioses (lichens, several types of mycorrhizae, and toxic endophytes) benefit from advanced microscopic and molecular techniques.Discussions of fungi associated with insects (entomopathogens, a Drosophila model to study entomopathogens), nematode-trappingfungi and their prey, and a group of termite-associated fungi that produce secondary metabolites with potential uses as pharmaceuticals, complete the volume. 

Fungal Associations is a well-illustrated, thought-provoking resource for specialists and generalists, including researchers, lecturers, and students interested in ecology, evolution, microbiology, and mycology. The volume would be an excellent text for a seminar course for advanced undergraduate or graduate students.