Ebook: From Ethnomycology to Fungal Biotechnology: Exploiting Fungi from Natural Resources for Novel Products

Fungi playa major role in the sustainability of the biosphere, and mycorrhizal fungi are essential for the growth of many of our woods and forests. The applications of fungi in agriculture, industry and biotechnology remain of paramount importance, as does their use as a source of drugs and to help clean up our environment. This volume contains key papers from the conference 'From Ethnomycology to Fungal Biotechnology: Exploiting Fungi from Natural Resources for Novel Products'. This was the first international scientific conference covering the transfer of traditional remedies and processes in ethnomycology to modern fungal biotechnology. The conference was held at Simla, Himachal Pradesh, India from 15 to 16 December 1997. The key subject areas addressed in the conference were the issues of exploring and exploiting fungal diversity for novel leads to new antibiotics, enzymes, medicines and a range of other leads for wood preservation, biological control, agricultural biotechnology and the uses of fungi in the food industry. The conference programme included key-note presentations followed by poster sessions and general discussion. The book is broadly based, covering five main areas: Ethnomycology, Fungal Biotechnology, Biological Control, Mycorrhizal Fungi and Fungal Pests. There is no doubt that in the past fungi have played a key role in ethnomycological remedies and that in the future they will continue to attract the interest of a wide range of disciplines ranging from environmental conservation, agriculture and the food industry to wood preservation and aerobiological studies.

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The first multidisciplinary analysis of principles and case studies on ethnomycology and fungal biotechnology, covering biological control, mycorrhizal fungi and applied mycology.

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The first multidisciplinary analysis of principles and case studies on ethnomycology and fungal biotechnology, covering biological control, mycorrhizal fungi and applied mycology.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xiii
From Ethnomycology to Fungal Biotechnology: A Historical Perspective....Pages 1-10
Ethnomycology and Folk Remedies: Fact and Fiction....Pages 11-17
Some Ethnomycological Studies from Madhya Pradesh, India....Pages 19-31
Some Indian Spices and Their Antimicrobial Properties....Pages 33-40
Exploring Mushroom Diversity for Pharmaceutical Utility....Pages 41-49
Fungal Biotechnology for the Development and Improvement of Insecticidal Fungi....Pages 51-56
Potential Biotechnological Applications of Thermophilic Moulds....Pages 57-74
Fungal Biotechnology for Effective Cereal Straw Management....Pages 75-90
Biotechnology for the Production and Enhancement of Mycoherbicide Potential....Pages 91-114
Biotechnological Applications of Thermophiilic Fungi in Mushroom Compost Preparation....Pages 115-126
Timber Preservation: The Potential Use of Natural Products and Processes....Pages 127-135
A Biocontrol Formulation for Protection of Stored Bamboo from Decay Fungi....Pages 137-144
Use of Fungi in the Control of Plant Pathogens....Pages 145-151
Biological Control of Root-Knot Nematode by Nematode-Destroying Fungi....Pages 153-162
Rhizosphere Biology of Root-Knot Diseased Abelmoschus Esculentus in Relation to its Bioconotrol....Pages 163-171
Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhizae in the Control of Fungal Pathogens....Pages 173-183
Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhizae in Increasing the Yield of Aromatic Plants....Pages 185-195
Mycorrhizal Root Litter as a Biofertilizer....Pages 197-203
The Application of Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in Afforestation....Pages 205-212
Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi: Biofertilizer for the Future....Pages 213-224
Storage Fungi in Edible Agricultural Commodities....Pages 225-234
Seed-Borne Mycoflora of Two Under-Exploited Legumes: Vigna Umbellata and Psophocarpus Tetragonolobus from Northeastern Parts of India....Pages 235-245
Association of Patulin With Market Samples of Dry Fruit Slices of Quinces (Cydonia Oblonga Mill.) from Jammu and Kashmir, India....Pages 247-256
Comparison Between Serpula Lacrymans Found in the Indian Himalayas and Mount Shasta, California....Pages 257-268
Back Matter....Pages 269-278
....Pages 279-285