Collection

Special Issue on Lifestyle changes of Fungi

Submission status
Closed
Micro-fungi and macro-fungi (mushrooms) have an array of interactions with other biota, and also have a diversity of life cycles. They heterotrophically consume all sources of organic matter for nutrition while contributing immensely to nutrient recycling. Fungi can be saprobic, pathogenic, endophytic, epiphytic, symbiotic, commensal or lichenized on a wide range of hosts that include animals and plants. In each of these lifestyles, their interactions with the host vary. Thus, the interactions between fungi and their hosts are bound to be fascinating, a fraction of which we already have evidence, while a majority may yet to be discovered. While most fungi are saprobes on dead organic material, there is evidence that they may be endophytes that switch to other life modes under various conditions. Some species live inside the host as endophytes and when the conditions change, they become pathogenic. However, which factors trigger these transformations have not been fully revealed. There is evidence to suggest that, within the same host, some species may have interchangeable lifestyles, as endophytes, pathogens, saprobes and possibly epiphytes. It remains to be confirmed if these variations in lifestyles are due to different levels of fungal gene expression or whether it is due to host genotypes that trigger these changes. Moreover, the question remains as to whether these fungal species are able to shift their lifestyles, from one host to another, and even inter-kingdom, such as from plants to animals or vice versa. A special issue “Lifestyle changes of fungi”, will be issued in early 2023 seeking answers to numerous hypotheses and questions on lifestyle switches in fungi. In this special issue, different lifestyles of fungi will be discussed in detail including mechanisms, host-specificity, and any special characters. While all major groups of fungi will be considered, one emphasis will be on endophytes, including their complete life cycles in situ, with experimental evidence of lifestyle changes. Other topics for in-depth analyses and discussions include the effect of climatic change, global prediction of lifestyle changes of common pathogenic and non-pathogenic fungal species, and host shifting of fungi between plants and animals, as applicable to lifestyle changes of fungi. Data on genomic variations and the evolution of lifestyles will be included to improve the current knowledge. Fungal Diversity invites original research and review articles to this special issue.

Editors

  • Dr Ishara S. Manawasinghe (Leading Guest Editor) Dr Ishara S. Manawasinghe (Leading Guest Editor) , 

    Dr Ishara S. Manawasinghe (Leading Guest Editor)

    Innovative Institute for Plant Health, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou 510225, People’s Republic of China.

  • Prof. Kevin D. Hyde Prof. Kevin D. Hyde , 

    Prof. Kevin D. Hyde

    Center of Excellence in Fungal Research, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, Thailand.

  • Prof Benedetto T. Linaldeddu Prof Benedetto T. Linaldeddu , 

    Prof Benedetto T. Linaldeddu

    Dipartimento Territorio e Sistemi Agro-Forestali, Università di Padova, Viale dell’Università 16, 35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy.

  • Prof Artur Alves Prof Artur Alves , 

    Prof Artur Alves

    Departamento de Biologia, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal.

  • Prof Jianping Xu Prof Jianping Xu , 

    Prof Jianping Xu

    Department of Biology, McMaster University, 1280 Main St. West, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada.

  • Prof Sybren de Hoog Prof Sybren de Hoog  &

    Prof Sybren de Hoog

    Center of Expertise in Mycology of Radboud University Medical Center / Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital, Geert Grooteplein 10 Zuid, 6525GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Foundation Atlas of Clinical Fungi, Neuweg 197, 1214GP Hilversum, The Netherlands.

  • Prof Sajeewa Maharachchikumbura Prof Sajeewa Maharachchikumbura

    Prof Sajeewa Maharachchikumbura

    School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, People’s Republic of China.

Articles

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