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Preface to the Second Edition

Since the publication of the English edition of this book in 1994, the classification system of organisms has changed dramatically, following the eight-kingdom concept based on the knowledge obtained with molecular techniques. All soil fungi now belong to the kingdom of Fungi, Chromista, or Protozoa; therefore, soil fungi described in this book are based on the traditional broad concept of fungi belonging to one of these kingdoms. Although some fungal species have been identified with the molecular techniques without observing the morphological characteristics, the fungi have been originally named on morphology, and new fungi will be described and accepted scientifically on the basis of morphological descriptions following the traditional classification system. Therefore, compiled knowledge on these fungi is still essential and needed for any workers on this line.

In this revised second edition, the original text is partially revised by rearranging, correcting, rewording, redrawing electronically and adding the recent knowledge, together with descriptions of 45 additional fungal species, their pictures, illustrations, and references.

I would like to thank John Sulzycki, Senior Editor; Samar Haddad, Project Editor; Erika Dery, Project Coordinator; and Barbara E. Norwitz, Publisher, at CRC Press, for their help, advice, and considerations in publishing this edition.