Mycopathologia 145: 107–108, 1999.

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Book review

Tsuneo Watanabe, Pictorial Atlas of Soil and Seed Fungi, Lewis Publishers (CRC Press LLC), Boca Raton, Florida, USA, 1994, 411 pp., US $99.95 Many of us who routinely cultivate microorganisms have dealt with some of the more common airborne fungi (Penicillium, Aspergillus, Mucor) either as friend or pest. These fungal taxa are also common components in soil in any location. Watanabe reveals this clearly in his English edition of a Pictorial Atlas of Soil and Seed Fungi where he thoroughly reviews 308 species of soil fungi. Soil fungi are typically isolated from soil, plant roots, and seeds, but may also be readily and frequently isolated from various kinds of organic matter from both soil and atmosphere (as is the case with the previously mentioned fungi). For each taxon reviewed, Watanabe has included keys, a detailed morphological review, and has maintained a voucher specimen, either personally or deposited in a culture bank. As the title of the book suggests, illustrations, both line drawings and photographs, are included. Watanabe sets the stage in the earlier chapters by reviewing the essentials of soil fungi research, both past and present. Chapter one outlines the history of the study of soil fungi including some of the earliest works including pioneer studies by Adametz in 1886 and Waksmann’s famous discovery of streptomycin in 1916, to mention a few. Included in this is a discussion with specific examples on the complicated nature of relationships between different organisms (fungi to fungi or fungi to other) that can range from noncompetitive to antagonistic to stimulating. To finish off chapter one there is a very resourceful supplement that references previous floras on soil fungus. This supplement includes notes for each flora as to the types and number of fungal genera covered and the methods of isolation used. Chapter two brings us into the present by discussing specific methods and materials used for this

study. All taxa covered in this book were isolated from samples taken from cultivated and uncultivated habitats mostly in Japan, but not excluding Taiwan, Paraguay, and Argentina. The details on the basic principles of isolation methods for soil-borne fungi from plants and soil are thorough enough for the reader to attempt in their own lab. Techniques for successful sporulation, which is essential for identification for most fungal taxa, and techniques for preservation, are covered as well. The third chapter is an excellent primer for fungal identification. The author gives the reader basic information to get started and a reference list to some of the cornerstone text in taxonomy and systematics of fungi in general, and for specific fungal classes. The information in chapter three is essential to the next chapter, which includes sets of keys. The first key is to the major classes of fungi and the following keys are for the genera of specific classes. Each key is prefaced by a set of key words for which the user must understand to use the key. The fifth chapter (but not the last section of the text) consists of a numbered alphabetical species list arranged by class. The final section of this book, Morphology of Soil Fungi, is the majority of the text. It is in this section that 200 taxa, at the generic and species rank, are reviewed. The order in which these taxa are reviewed follows the same order of alphabetical species list from chapter five, but does not utilize the numbering system established in that chapter. For each genus, the authority, reference, and type species are listed. In some cases frequently used synonyms are included. If three or more taxa are reviewed for a particular genus then a key to species follows. For all taxa there are descriptions of morphological characters illustrated by line drawings and photographs with dimensions of important structures. While the photographs are clearly labeled and explained, the line drawings lack that information. All of the taxa descriptions come directly from material for which the

108 author has maintained clearly marked voucher specimens. Vouchers are stocked at one of the following institutions: the Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute at Tsukuba, Japan; Gene bank; Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery; National Institute of Agro-Environmental Science; Fermentation Institute, Osaka; American Type Culture Collection; and/or Centraalbureau Voor Schimmelcultures. There are lots of pictorial books on large showy mushrooms and fungi that cause disease, but there are few books available that include the less photogenic and the nonpathogenic fungi. Pictorial Atlas of Soil and Plant Fungi cover these neglected fungi and will hopefully foster interest in these fungi. Many of these

fungi have already or may come into demand as a source of biological control agents, or as a source of a particular physiological active substance. In addition, because Watanabe gives detailed information on techniques for isolation, culturing, and identification, this text is a useful tool for any lab instructor or researcher needing the basics on how to study soil-borne fungi. S. Coleman McCleneghan Department of Biology Appalachian State University Boone, NC 28608 USA