Philippine fungal diversity: benefits and threats to food security

• Published in: The Handbook of Microbial Bioresources pp. 675 - 681
• Main Author: Cumagun, C. J. R
• Format: Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: Wallingford, UK CABI 2016; CAB International
• Subjects: angiosperms; APEC countries; ASEAN Countries; Asia; biocontrol; biological control; Biotechnology; Botany & plant sciences; case studies; climate change; climatic change; climatic factors; commelinids; corn; Developing Countries; disease resistance; eukaryotes; fungal toxins; fungi; fungus; maize; Microbiology (non-medical); monocotyledons; mycology; mycotoxins; natural enemies; pathogens; phytopathogens; plant pathogens; plants; Poaceae; Poales; resistance to disease; South East Asia; species diversity; Spermatophyta; Zea; Zea mays; Philippines
• ISBN: 9781780645216; 178064521X
• DOI: 10.1079/9781780645216.0675

Fungal diversity plays a vital role in sustaining human life, either benefiting or threatening food security. Benefits that derive from fungi range from food and medicine, to decomposition of organic matter, recycling of nutrients and as plant growth promoters, including biological control of fungal plant pathogens. There are generally fewer threats to mankind posed by fungi, such as being pathogens of agricultural crops and mycotoxin producers, than there are benefits to mankind. This chapter focuses on the beginnings and development of mycology as a science in the Philippines and presents the main repositories of fungal cultures in the Philippines. The four case studies generated from my research are highlighted, namely: (i) biological control of plant pathogens; (ii) microbial gifts for agriculture; (iii) breeding for resistance against cereal blast; and (iv) mycotoxins in maize (corn). In view of habitat loss and climate change threatening fungi, there is an urgent need to promote fungal conservation for a sustainable agriculture and healthy planet.