Mycology

Mycology (Greek: mýkes=mushroom and logos=teaching) refers to the science of fungi. The term was coined by Christian Hendrik Persoon and emerged in the 18th century. It soon became popular among biologists as a term for fungal science.

The fungi belong to different departments such as the sac fungi (Ascomycota), basidial fungi (Basidiomycota), yoke fungi (Zygomycota), potty fungi (Chytridiomycota) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Glomeromycota). There are also unsystematic groups such as yeasts and molds.

Traditionally, mycologists often also deal with slime molds (Myxomycota) and egg fungi (Oomycota), which are now no longer counted among the fungi but among the protists.

The economically most important and research-intensive branch of mycology is the role of fungi as pathogens in plants. Due to the long co-evolution of fungi and plants, dangerous fungal diseases have developed that can destroy monocultures of cultivated plants, such as smut or rust fungi. Here, mycologists examine the infection mechanisms and research control strategies.