The Fungal Colony [Paperback]

An authoritative information on the properties of the fungal colony.Fungi, ubiquitous and abundant in nature, represent one of the simplest forms of higher life. As such they provide a useful experimental system for the study of a range of fundamental biological processes. Of particular interest is their unique mycelial growth form; a branching network of tubes which together constitute the fungal colony. This volume considers the properties of the mycelium and provides the most recent and authoritative information on the molecular genetics and physiological mechanisms underlying its growth and interactions.Fungi, ubiquitous and abundant in nature, represent one of the simplest forms of higher life. As such they provide a useful experimental system for the study of a range of fundamental biological processes. Of particular interest is their unique mycelial growth form; a branching network of tubes which together constitute the fungal colony. This volume considers the properties of the mycelium and provides the most recent and authoritative information on the molecular genetics and physiological mechanisms underlying its growth and interactions.Fungi are among the simplest of eukaryotes. Their study has provided useful paradigms for processes that are fundamental to the way in which higher cells grow, divide, establish form and shape, and communicate with one another. The majority of work has been carried out on the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, but in nature unicellular fungi are greatly outnumbered by filamentous forms for which our knowledge is much less well developed. This volume focuses on the analysis of the filamentous life style, particularly on the hyphae that constitute the fungal mycelial colony. This book provides the most recent insights into the molecular genetics and physiological mechanisms underlying the elaboration of the branching mycelium and the interactions among individual fungal mycelia. This volume offers much to interest mycologisl3y