This is a comprehensive compilation of very valuable review articles on edible mushrooms, mycorrhizae and other beneficial fungi presented by very eminent scientists of this country involved in the research work on the respective areas. The book is arranged in three section : Section I presents a detailed analysis of the importance of macromycetes as a delicacy of very high nutritive value and the problems and prospects of the cultivation and popularisation of many of the edible mushrooms of the tropics like, species of pleurotus. Volvariella, etc. There are chapters on how to collect and identify the naturally occurring mushrooms and thereby enabling us to utilise this natural wealth for food. Section II deals with mycorrhizae, the fungus-root association which has great ecological and agricultural significance. It is a well plant growth, impart resistance against drought and infection by root pathogens etc. The past work on mycorrhizae and the future prospects of their utilization in agriculture are discussed in detail. Section III provides the details of some of the many unique uses of beneficial fungi. This include uses of fungal cellulases in biotechnology, utilization of fungi for the production of single cell proteins, and for the control of pests and exploiting plant diseases for human welfare.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR M.C. Nair
Dr. M.C. Nair, Professor & Head, Department of Plant Pathology, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram under the Kerala Agricultural University. He took his doctorate in Plant Pathology from the Tamilnadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore under the guidance of the renowned Plant Pathologist, Late Dr. K. Ramakrishnan. Dr. Nair started his career in 1958 in the Department of Agriculture, Kerala State after graduation in agriculture from the Kerala University. In 1964 he took his M.Sc. (Ag.) in Plant Pathology and from 1972 onwards working as a faculty member of the Kerala Agricultural University. Dr. Nair has got vast field experience in Plant diseases control and also is currently engaged in work on Tropical mushrooms and on mycorrhizae. Author of nearly eighty scientific papers and a number of popular articles, he is the author of two text books also; one on Mycology and another on Crop diseases. His book on ‘Introductory Mycology’ has won the National award of a cash prize of Rs. 10,000 instituted by the University Grants Commission. He has also edited a book entitled “Advances in Mushroom Biotechnology†containing review articles presented in the National Symposium on Mushroom organized during January 1991 at Thiruvananthapuram. He is also the co-author of the book ‘Diseases of Crop plants of Kerala’ published by the Kerala Agricultural University.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR S. Balakrishnan
Sadanam P.V. Balakrishnan is a rare blend of the purist and the progressive. A respected performer and guru, Balakrishnan is rated as one of the best teachers of this complicated dance form and teaches in many national and international institutions including ARTA of France. Balakrishnan has won many national and international awards in his long and distinguished performing career. He was a the student of The kkinkaattil Ramunni Nair at the Gandhi Seva Saddanam Kathakali Academy and Kizhupaddam Kumaran Nair.
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