Since publication of the first edition of Volume I in 1994, the field of fungal biology has developed tremendously, mainly through the advancement of various molecular techniques and international fungal genome projects. To accommodate these developments, the second edition has been completely updated. Six chapters have been revised by former authors, others by newly recruited experts, and also novel subjects, emerged in more recent years, have been added to the book.

"Since publication of the first edition of Volume I in 1994, the field of fungal biology has developed tremendously, mainly through the advancement of various molecular techniques and international fungal genome projects. To accommodate these developments, the second edition has been completely updated. Six chapters have been revised by former authors, others by newly recruited experts, and also novel subjects, emerged in more recent years, have been added to the book.

Vegetative Processes and Growth.- Morphogenesis: Control of Cell Types and Shape.- Organelle Inheritance in Yeasts and Other Fungi.- Mitosis in Filamentous Fungi.- Apical Wall Biogenesis.- The Fungal Cell Wall.- Septation and Cytokinesis in Fungi.- Re-Wiring the Network: Understanding the Mechanism and Function of Anastomosis in Filamentous Ascomycete Fungi.- Heterogenic Incompatibility in Fungi.- Programmed Cell Death in Fungi.- Senescence and Longevity.- Signals in Growth and Development.- Autoregulatory Signals in Mycelial Fungi.- Pheromone Action in the Fungal Groups Chytridiomycota, and Zygomycota, and in the Oomycota.- Photomorphogenesis and Gravitropism in Fungi.- Reproductive Processes.- Asexual Sporulation in Mycelial Fungi.- Mating-Type Structure, Evolution, and Function in Euascomycetes.- Fruiting-Body Development in Ascomycetes.- The Mating Type Genes of the Basidiomycetes.- Regulatory and Structural Networks Orchestrating Mating, Dimorphism, Cell Shape, and Pathogenesis in Ustilago maydis.- The Emergence of Fruiting Bodies in Basidiomycetes.- Meiosis in Mycelial Fungi.