Evolution of Fungi and Fungal-Like Organisms (The Mycota Book 14)

Based on sequence analyses of many different genes, the past decade has provided us with a profound knowledge of fungal systematics and phylogeny. In addition, a number of sequences of complete fungal genomes have been identified and several others will soon follow. In this volume, leading experts address questions concerning the origin of the fungal kingdom and fungal evolution at a level of analytical refinement that has never been possible before. The following major aspects are highlighted: evolutionary roots of fungi; evolution of signaling in fungi and fungal-like organisms; evolution of mutualistic systems and metabolism in fungi; and evolutionary mechanisms and trends. Front Matter....Pages i-xix Front Matter....Pages 1-1 1 The Protistan Origins of Animals and Fungi....Pages 3-23 2 Microsporidia – Highly Reduced and Derived Relatives of Fungi....Pages 25-36 3 Environmental DNA Analysis and the Expansion of the Fungal Tree of Life....Pages 37-54 Front Matter....Pages 55-55 4 Evolution of Signalling and Morphogenesis in the Dictyostelids....Pages 57-71 5 Function and Evolution of Pheromones and Pheromone Receptors in Filamentous Ascomycetes....Pages 73-96 6 Mating Type in Basidiomycetes: Unipolar, Bipolar, and Tetrapolar Patterns of Sexuality....Pages 97-160 Front Matter....Pages 161-161 7 Evolution of the ‘Plant-Symbiotic’ Fungal Phylum, Glomeromycota ....Pages 163-185 8 Fruiting Body Evolution in the Ascomycota: a Molecular Perspective Integrating Lichenized and Non-Lichenized Groups....Pages 187-204 9 Genomic and Comparative Analysis of the Class Dothideomycetes....Pages 205-229 10 Evolution of Genes for Secondary Metabolism in Fungi....Pages 231-255 11 Carbonic Anhydrases in Fungi and Fungal-Like Organisms – Functional Distribution and Evolution of a Gene Family....Pages 257-274 Front Matter....Pages 275-275 12 Evolution of Mating-Type Loci and Mating-Type Chromosomes in Model Species of Filamentous Ascomycetes....Pages 277-292 13 Evolution of Special Metabolism in Fungi: Concepts, Mechanisms, and Pathways....Pages 293-329 Back Matter....Pages 331-345 Annotation Richly illustrated, and featuring contributions from leading experts in the field, this volume addresses questions concerning the origin of the fungal kingdom and fungal evolution at a level of analytical refinement that has never before been possible This volume presents cutting edge research on basic and applied aspects of fungal physiology and genetics. Renowned experts provide an overview of traditional as well as current and future aspects of potential application of fungi in biotechnology.