12 Ecological Genomics of Mycotrophic Fungi

Abstract

Interfungal interactions are common in both the ancient fungal lineages and in the most evolutionary derived ``high'' fungi. In this chapter, we focus on the most recent reports on genome-wide investigations of mycotrophic fungi. We reveal unique features that are present in intracellular mycoparasitic Cryptomycota and outline similar and apparently convergent mechanisms employed by a diversity of fungicolous Asco- and Basidiomycota. The potential benefits and pitfalls of applications of mycoparasitic fungi for protection of agricultural crops are discussed.