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The fungus Fusarium is a major plant pathogen that causes disease in nearly every agriculturally important plant. In addition, some strains produce mycotoxins that can cause serious illness in humans and livestock. The enormous economic importance of and health hazards posed by Fusarium have fuelled research into its biochemistry, genetics, genomics, proteomics and metabolomics by scientists worldwide. The primary aim of this research is the identification of strategies to reduce crop diseases and the risks posed to human and animal health. The wealth of information derived from this research has allowed Fusarium to serve as a model system for eukaryotic biology, permitting tremendous advances in our understanding of the genetic and biochemical processes involved in the fungus-plant interaction, fungal pathogenesis, toxin biosynthesis, genome plasticity and adaptive evolution to ecological niches. In this book, an international group of researchers critically reviews the most important current research on the genomics and molecular and cellular biology of Fusarium. The opening chapter provides a fascinating introduction to the organism. Subsequent chapters deal with: sex and fruiting; genome structural dynamics; molecular genetics and genomic approaches to study pathogenesis in wheat; proteomic analysis of the fungus-host interaction; Repeat-induced point mutation, DNA methylation and heterochromatin in Fusarium graminearum (Gibberella zeae); nitrogen regulation network and its impact on secondary metabolism and pathogenicity; diversity of polyketide synthases; and plant responses to Fusarium metabolites. This volume is essential for everyone working with Fusarium and other filamentous fungi. A recommended book for all biology, agriculture and medical libraries.
