Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

This book is about the growth and differentiation processes underlying the growth and differentia­ of filamentous fungi. The impetus for this work tion of fungi and that it provides the reader with stems from our perception that the coverage of adequate source references for further information. this highly diverse and important group of organ­ It is estimated conservatively that there are more isms has been neglected in recent years, despite than 1. 5 million species of fungi - more than five many significant advances in our understanding of times the number of vascular plants and second the underlying mechanisms of growth. This situ­ only in diversity to the insects. The extreme ation contrasts with the treatment of Saccharomyces diversity of form in the fungi has always been a cerevisiae, for example, which because of its ideal source of inspiration for mycologists. This book is properties for genetic analyses, has established concerned mainly with those systems that have itself as the model eukaryote for the analysis of the been well characterized from the biochemical, cell cycle, and basic studies of biochemical and physiological or genetic points of view. Although genetic regulation. This book does not deal with it has not been possible to illustrate the breadth of the detailed growth phYSiology of S.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• Part One The growing fungus
• The success of the hypha and mycelium
• Mycelial interconnectedness
• Part Two The architecture of fungal cells
• Cell walls
• Cell membrane
• Organelles of filamentous fungi
• The Cytoskeleton
• Part Three Metabolism and genetic regulation
• Fungal exoenzymes
• Transport
• Signal transduction in fungi
• Intermediary metabolism
• Genetics of fungi
• Molecular biology
• Part Four Coordination of growth and division
• Tip growth and polarity
• Kinetics of filamentous growth and branching
• Mathematical modelling of fungal growth
• Part Five Differentiation
• Sporulation of lower fungi
• Asexual sporulation in higher fungi
• Sexual reproduction of higher fungi
• Yeast-hyphal dimorphism
• Tissue formation
• Index

Reviews provided by Syndetics

CHOICE Review

The Growing Fungus is divided in five parts of two to six chapters each. The first part, "The Growing Fungus," discusses the concept of unitary and modular organisms. The second, "The Architecture of Fungal Cells," includes excellent discussions of cell walls, the cytoskeleton, and cellular organelles. Part 3, "Metabolism and Genetic Regulation," includes outstanding chapters on fungal exoenzymes, including those excreted into the environment and those that are important industrially; and on intermediary metabolism including carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur metabolism. Other chapters treat fungal genetics and their molecular biology, including extrachromosomal inheritance. Part 4, "Coordination of Growth and Division," treats growth and polarity, kinetics of filamentous growth and branching, and mathematical modeling of fungal growth. The final part, "Differentiation," in five chapters, discusses asexual and sexual reproduction. The last two chapters, on yeast-hyphal dimorphism and tissue formation, are both outstanding introductions to these complex but very important processes. A well-written, closely edited, excellent book. Upper-division undergraduate through faculty. J. Dawson; Pittsburg State University