Truffles: Diversity, Ecology and Biotechnology

Truffles are hypogeous ectomycorrhizal ascomycetous edible mushrooms distributed worldwide in terrestrial ecosystems, including deserts, as non-timber forest products. They are seasonal and have a short shelf life. Owing to their nutraceutical value, truffles are in high demand and valuable. Of the 180 or more species of truffles reported worldwide, only around 20 are commercially viable.

Truffles: Diversity, Ecology and Biotechnology reviews the current advances in truffles from a historical perspective and covers ethnomycological profiles, habitats, ecology, geographical distribution, diversity, systematics, phylogeny, ultrastructure, sexual reproduction, cultivation, analytical techniques, and the impact of climate change and industrial applications on truffles. It also emphasizes the role of soil properties in the occurrence of truffles (e.g., Tuber spp.), their pathogens, product development and marketing. The contributors hail from academia and industries across the globe.

Prof. Kandikere R. Sridhar is an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Biosciences at Mangalore University. He has 45 years of experience. His main areas of research are ’Diversity and Ecology of Freshwater Fungi of the Western Ghats and Mangrove/Marine Habitats of the West Coast of India’. Dr Sridhar was an NSERC postdoctoral fellow and visiting professor at Mount Allison University, Canada; the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) and Martin Luther University, Germany; and the Centre of Biology, University of Minho, Portugal. He was conferred the Shome Memorial Award (2004), Vice President (2013), President (2018) and Lifetime Achievement Award (2019) by the Mycological Society of India. He was awarded a Fellow of the Indian Mycological Society, Kolkata (2014). The Asian Mycological Society has conferred on him the title of Distinguished Asian Mycologist (2015). The Association of Agricultural Technology of Southeast Asia, Thailand, awarded him Outstanding Leader in Education and Research (2016). His contributions over the last 45 years have elevated him to the top 2% of world scientists in the field of mycology, according to a Stanford University (USA) survey. Dr Sridhar is serving as a visiting professor at the Department of Agricultural Technology, King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology, Bangkok. He has published over 500 research articles, reviewed over 170 research papers, 25 project proposals and 10 book proposals. He is on the editorial board of several national and international journals. He has edited 14 books published by the Fungal Diversity Press, CRC Press, AAP Press and Springer International.

Dr. Sunil Kumar Deshmukh (FMASc, FMSI, FABP, FSAB) has a PhD in Mycology from Dr H.S. Gour University Sagar, MP, India. He joined Hoechst Marion Roussel Ltd., Mumbai (1986-1998) as Scientific Officer, was later promoted to Senior Research Scientist; then moved to Piramal Enterprises Ltd., Mumbai, as Senior Group Leader, later promoted to Assistant Director of Natural Products (1998-2014) and was a Fellow and Area Convenor at The Energy and Resources Institute, New Delhi (2015-2018). He was an Adjunct Associate Professor, at Deakin University Australia. Currently, he is a Scientific Advisor at Agpharm Bioinnovations LLP, Patiala, and Greenvention Biotech Pvt. Ltd., Pune. He has peer-reviewed more than 155 papers / review articles/book chapters and has delivered numerous oral and poster presentations in many global meetings (more than 100) and edited 25 books. He is a Review Editor for Frontiers in Microbiology, Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, Frontiers in Environmental Science and Associate Editor of MycoIndia. He is the President of the Association of Fungal Biologists and past president (2017), Vice President (2010) and Executive Member of the Mycological Society of India (2002-2006). He is a fellow of the Mycological Society of India, the Association of Biotechnology and Pharmacy, Society for Applied Biotechnology and Fellow of the Maharashtra Academy of Science. He is a reviewer for several journals [3 Biotech, Photochemistry Reviews, Indian Journal of Microbiology, World Journal of Microbiology, Biotechnology (Springer), Critical Reviews in Biotechnology, Natural Product Research (Taylor & Francis) and Marine Drugs (MDPI)].