untitled

foci of infection in the lungs. Mitosporic fungi such

as Penicillium, Aspergillusand Fusariumspp. can also

be major spoilage agents of stored food products

(Chapter 8), and produce several dangerous mycotox-

ins (e.g. the aflatoxins of Aspergillus flavus, discussed

in Chapter 7). Several mitosporic fungi are major

plant pathogens, including the vascular wilt fungi

Verticillium dahliaeand Fusarium oxysporum(Chapter 14).

Others parasitize insects – for example, the many

strains of Metarhiziumand Beauveriathat have poten-

tial for biological control of insects (Chapter 15).

Mitosporic fungi have many other beneficial roles

and are exploited commercially for their vast range of

useful metabolites (antibiotics, enzymes, immunosup-

pressants, organic acids, etc.).

The fungus-like organisms

In addition to the true fungi, several fungus-like

organisms have traditionally been studied by mycolo-

gists. This legacy dates back a long time and it is

40 CHAPTER 2

Fig. 2.33Some representative methods of conidium production in mitosporic fungi.

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