Considers the role of fungi in the tropical ecosystem and their potential as a source of useful, novel compounds.

The disappearing rain forest and damage to other tropical and subtropical habitats has recently provoked considerable public awareness and response from governmental and scientific bodies. Tropical fungi have received little attention to date and this volume aims to correct this deficit. Based on a meeting of the British Mycological Society, the book addresses the challenge which the exceptional diversity of tropical fungi present to taxonomists, biochemists, molecular biologists, ecologists and pathologists alike. The significance of the many tropical species and ectomycorrhizal associations in nutrient cycling in rainforests, desert ecosystems and aquatic habitats is considered, together with an evaluation of the potential of such fungi in the production of commercially useful, novel metabolites.

1. I am part of all that I have met
2. Tropical fungi: their commercial potential
3. The tropical fungal biota: census pertinence, prophylaxis and prognosis
4. The ecology of tropical leaf litter fungi
5. Interactions between the pathogen Crinipellis perniciosa and cocoa tissue
6. Ecology of tropical marine fungi
7. Distribution of Zygomycotina - the tropical connection
8. Tropical hyphomyetes from submerged litter in freshwater streams
9. Nutrient cycling by fungi in wet tropical forests
10. Molecular genetics of Colletotrichum gloesporoides on Stylosanthes spp.
11. Armillaria in tropical Africa

Heterobasidiomycetes in the tropics
Tropical polypores
12. Looking for ectomycorrhizal trees and ectomycorrhizal fungi in tropical Africa
13. Similarities and differences in the macromycete floras and biological strategies in selected tropical areas
14. New and interesting Xylariaceae from the tropics and subtropics
the habitat factor
15. Fungi in desert ecosystems: interactions with the soil biota.