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Mycology is the study of fungi, their genetic and biochemical properties, their taxonomy, and their use to humans as a source for medicinals (see penicillin) and food ( beer, wine, cheese, edible mushrooms), as well as their dangers, such as poisoning or infection. Mycology is closely related to phytopathology: the study of plant diseases. Historically, mycology was a branch of Botany. Pioneer mycologists were Elias Magnus FriesElias Magnus Fries ( August 15, 1794 February 8, 1878) was a Swedish botanist born at Femsjo in Smalandia. In 1811 he entered the University of Lund where, in 1814, he was appointed an associate professorship in botany, and in 1824, became a full professo, Christian Hendrik PersoonChristian Hendrik Persoon ( February 1, 1761 November 16, 1836) was a mycologist who made additions to Linnaeus' mushroom taxonomy. He was influenced by Elias Magnus Fries. Persoon was born in South Africa, of Dutch and German descent. He died in poverty, and Anton de BaryHeinrich Anton de Bary ( January 26, 1831 January 19, 1888) was a German surgeon, botanist, microbiologist, and mycologist ( fungal systematics and physiology). He is considered a founding father of plant pathology ( phytopathology). He was a professor at. Today, the most comprehensively studied and understood fungi are the eukaryoticEukaryotes are organisms with complex cells, in which the genetic material is organized into membrane-bound nuclei. They include the animals, plants, and fungi, which are mostly multicellular, as well as various other groups called protists, many of which model organisms Saccharomyces cerevisiaeSaccharomyces cerevisiae is a species of budding yeast. It is perhaps the most relevant yeast for mankind, both for its use since ancient times in baking and brewing, and for being one of the most intensively studied eukaryotic model organisms in molecula and Schizosaccharomyces pombeSchizosaccharomyces pombe also called "fission yeast," is a species of yeast. It is used as a model organism in molecular and cell biology. It is a unicellular eukaryote, whose cells are rod-shaped. These cells maintain their shape by growing exclusively.
The genus Fusarium (which are worldwide in their distribution) and their toxins associated with fatal outbreaks of alimentary toxic aleukia in humans were extensively studied by Professor Abraham Z. JoffeAbraham Z. Joffe ( 1909- 2000) was Professor of Mycology and Mycotoxicology at the Hebrew University, Jerusalem. Joffe's professional interests were centered primarily in toxigenic fungi associated with production of mycotoxins ( aflatoxins, trichothecene. Many other fungi are economically and socially important as they are responsible for diseases like Potato blight.
Field expeditions to find interesting types of fungi (often edible mushrooms) are known as fungus foray s, and are typically led by an expert mycologist.
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