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Title: THE IDENTIFICATION OF FUNGI: AN ILLLUSTRATED MANUAL WITH KEYS, GLOSSARY, AND GUIDE TO LITERATURE

Author
item Dugan, Frank

Submitted to: American Phytopathological Society Press
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/2/2004
Publication Date: 2/1/2006
Citation: Dugan, F.M. 2006. The identification of fungi: an illlustrated manual with keys, glossary, and guide to literature. American Phytopathological Society Press. 176 p.

Interpretive Summary: This manual of approximately 170 pages is primarily aimed at graduate students, technicians and professionals who require a comprehensive, illustrated introduction to the identification of fungi. The manual consists of an introduction, a taxonomic portion with simplified keys accompanied by illustrations and literature citations, an illustrated glossary of technical terms, and an extensive bibliography. The simplified keys permit identification of most common fungi to the level of family, and illustrations are provided for representatives of common genera and species within each family. There is a short section on life cycles of fungi, and a list of substrates and environments inhabited by fungi, with citations for identification literature pertinent to each substrate or environment. All major groups of fungi are covered. Additional citations are provided to illustrate current taxonomic research for each major group.

Technical Abstract: An introductory manual of approximately 170 pages introduces students, technicians and professionals to the identification of fungi, including 'lower fungi' (Plasmodiophoromycota, Dictyosteliomycota, Acrasiomycota, Myxomycota, Oomycota, Hyphochytridiomycota, Labyrinthulomycota, and Chytridiomycota) and 'higher fungi' (Zygomycota, Ascomycota, Basidiomycota and Deuteromycetes). Protoctistan 'fungi' as well as eufungi are covered by the manual. Simplified keys and diagrammatic illustrations are accompanied by literature citations down to the level of family, and representative genera are illustrated. The emphasis is on traditional classification systems, since most literature for identification reflects traditional taxonomy, but for each major group several publications are cited to illustrate the directions and methods of current phylogenetic research. Supplemental sections cover life cycles and technical terms, or denote literature published on fungi in specific substrates and environments. A bibliography providing some 850 references is provided, as is contact information for major publishers of mycological literature.