Description

---

The genus Cordyceps and allied species, such as entomopathogenic fungi, parasitize mainly insects and other arthropods and have been known since ancient times. They are a source of hundreds of metabolites of medicinal significance used in drug discovery and drug development.

The book reviews the developments in cordyceps research and its applications. It covers areas such as diversity, distribution, taxonomy, phylogeny, genetics, bioactive potential, nutraceutical values, biotechnological prospects, plant protection, safety concerns, and marketed products. Further, the impact of human interference as well as climate change on the habitats of Cordyceps has been discussed. The book is meant for readers with an interest in mycology and allied areas. It is also invaluable to personnel carrying out research in disciplines like applied biology, biochemistry, biotechnology, botany, ecology, entomology, environmental biology, field biology, forestry, and zoology.

About the Author

---

Prof. Dr. Kandikere Ramaiah Sridhar is currently serving as an adjunct faculty member in the Department of Biosciences at Mangalore University. He has served for up to 45 years. His main area of research is 'Diversity and Ecology of Freshwater Fungi of the Western Ghats and Marine Fungi of the Arabian Sea'. 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 based on Google Scholar citations. 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 articles, 25 project proposals, and 12 book proposals. He is on the editorial board of several national and international journals. He has edited 14 books published by IK International Publishing House, Fungal Diversity Press, CRC Press, Apple Academic Press, and Springer International.Dr. Sunil Kumar Deshmukh is a Scientific Advisor to Greenvention Biotech, Uruli-Kanchan, Pune, India, and Agpharm Bioinnovations LLP, Patiala, Punjab, India. Veteran industrial mycologist spent a substantial part of his career in drug discovery at Hoechst Marion Roussel Limited [now Sanofi India Ltd.], Mumbai, and Piramal Enterprises Limited, Mumbai. He has also served TERI-Deaken Nano Biotechnology Centre, TERI, New Delhi, and as an Adjunct Associate Professor at Deakin University, Australia. He has to his credit 8 patents, 152 publications, and 21 books on various aspects of fungi and natural products of microbial origin. He is a president of the Association of Fungal Biologists (AFB) and a past president of the Mycological Society of India (MSI). He is a fellow of the Mycological Society of India, the Association of Biotechnology and Pharmacy, the Society for Applied Biotechnology, and the Maharashtra Academy of Science. He is one of the world's top 2% scientists in the field of microbiology, according to a Stanford University (USA) survey based on Google Scholar citations. He has approximately four decades of research experience in getting bioactive from fungi and various aspects of keratinophilic fungi.Dr. Fung Shin Yee (FRSB) is a biochemist, who received her degree from the Universiti Malaya. She actively pursues her interest in natural compounds focusing on medicinal mushrooms. She leads the Medicinal Mushroom Research Group (MMRG) and has an immense interest in Malaysia's National Treasure, the Tiger Milk mushrooms (Lignosus sp.) amongst other medicinal mushrooms. Her innovative work with Lignosus sp. has won her several prestigious international and local prizes - including the much-coveted Prix Du Salon International Des Inventions De Geneva and ITEX Gold awards; and several Malaysian patents. Her research endeavours utilize a multidisciplinary approach in her methodology with multiple collaborators both local and international. Her work transcended from bench to bedside - translational research that aims to bring the Malaysian medicinal gem to good use, promoting wellness to humankind. Her work has been published in many high-impact articles in international journals and books. She is the Founder and CTO of Essenti Nutrien Sdn. Bhd. who specialises and pioneers the ACE Technology. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology (RSB), United Kingdom, and holds various leadership positions - locally she is active in the Executive Committee within the Malaysian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (MSBMB) which is an adhering body to the Federation of Asian and Oceanian Biochemists and Molecular Biologists (FAOBMB) and The International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (IUBMB). She is also involved in the Malaysia National Chapter (MNC) of The Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD), UNESCO program unit.Dr. Mahadevakumar, S., is Scientist C working at the Botanical Survey of India, Andaman and Nicobar Regional Centre, Port Blair, Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change, Government of India. He has expertise in mycology and plant pathology, with a primary focus on fungal systematics and new emerging diseases. He has developed an interest in studying the macrofungi of India, including Andamans. Described many new species of microfungi and macrofungi new to science and new disease records to India. Dr. Mahadevakumar served as Scientist B at the Forest Pathology Department, Kerala State Council for Science, Technology, and Environment (KSCSTE), Kerala Forest Research Institute, Kerala, and Assistant Professor of Microbiology at Karnataka State Open University, Mysore. He is the recipient of: The Department of Science and Technology INSPIRE Fellowship; The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Research Associateship; Keladi Shivappa Nayaka University of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences (KSNUAHS) Post-Doctoral Fellowship; Department of Science and Technology (DST) SERB National Post-Doctoral Fellowship. He is an Associate Fellow of the Karnataka Science and Technology Academy (KSTA) and an Associate Editor of MycoIndia, the Journal of Indian Fungi. He has published over 60 research publications in reputed journals and 18 book chapters. He is a life member of several botanical as well as mycological associations.