Dear Colleagues,

The number of fungi and fungus-like protists, such as myxomycetes (slime molds), oomycetes, thraustochytrids, and other related taxa, which are traditionally studied by mycologists, is estimated to be much higher than that of known and described species to date. Recent estimates of fungal species richness could reach up to 5 million species; however, roughly 98% of these fungal species remain undescribed or undiscovered. Additionally, with biodiversity loss as one of the key problems of global concern, continuous studies on the biodiversity of these mycoflora could raise efforts for their conservation and, eventually, the exploration of their benefits. Fungi and fungus-like protists are also known key microbial communities in many ecosystems, and are exploited for agricultural, biotechnological, environmental, and pharmacological applications. To prevent the overexploitation of these microorganisms, studies on their sustainable use must be encouraged.

In this Special Issue, we will cover all research studies related to the biodiversity assessment, ecological patterns, and conservation of fungi, including lichens and those previously classified as fungi, e.g. the fungus-like protists. We also look at how fungal biodiversity can be used sustainably in addressing human concerns and societal problems. Therefore, we welcome reviews and original research articles covering fungal diversity and distribution studies, conservation efforts, environmental monitoring, and the production as well as sustainable use of fungal products and processes.

Dr. Thomas Edison E. dela Cruz
Dr. Nikki Heherson A. Dagamac
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Fungi is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• bioactivities
• biocontrol
• biodiversity
• biopharmaceutical
• bioprospecting
• bioremediation
• biotechnology
• environmental clean-up
• enzyme technology
• fermentation
• fungal enzymes
• genomics
• taxonomy and systematics
• industrial application
• natural products