SYLLABUS - FUNGI IN THE ENVIRONMENT

Primary instructors:

Dr. John Dighton (609-894-8849 x 503; 732-932-6555; dighton@imcs.rutgers.edu);

Dr. Jim White (732-932-9375 x 357; jwhite@aesop.rutgers.edu);

selected lectures and labs by Dr. Marshall Bergen, Dr. Gerald Bills, Dr. Peter Oudemans, Ms. Shannon Nix, Mr. Joseph Bischoff, and others.

Course Texts: Hudler (Magical Mushrooms, Mischievous Molds); Kendrick (The Fifth Kingdom).

Sept. 5. Introduction (Dighton/White)

Sept. 8. Lab-use of microscopes, making measurements, distinguishing fungal structures

Sept. 12. Lab-making media, culturing fungi, isolation from soil (Bergen)

Sept. 15. Lab-identification of microscopic soil fungi (Bergen)

Sept. 19. Classification and naming fungi (White; Hudler chap. 1; Kendrick chap. 1).

Sept. 22. Mushroom identification (White; Kendrick chap. 5)

Sept. 26. Ecosystems – the context in which fungi live – the concept of scale and magic

Sept. 29. Fungi and primary productivity – saprotrophs (Dighton; Hudler chap. 12).

Oct. 3. Lab-identification of plant pathogenic fungi (Bischoff; Kendrick chap 12; Hudler

Oct. 6. Fungi and primary productivity – mycorrhizae (Dighton; Hudler chap. 14).

Oct. 10. Plant-fungus symbioses (White; Hudler chap. 14; Kendrick chaps. 7,17).

Oct. 13. Fungi as food – their place in food webs – the ecological connection (Dighton;

Oct. 17. Poisonous and edible mushrooms (White; Hudler chap 10; Kendrick chap. 18).

Oct. 20. Fungi and primary productivity – pathogens (Dighton; Hudler chaps. 3-5).

Oct. 24. Novel fungal products – the role of fungi in the pharmaceutical world (Dr.

Gerald Bills, Merck Labs).

Oct. 27. Fungi in food – spoilage or not? (Jim Watson, Harvest Moon; Kendrick chap.

Oct. 31. Mid-term quiz (essay format-100 pts)

Nov. 3. Fungi and primary productivity – pathogens – a commercial point of view (Dr.

Nov. 7. Composting and wood decay (White; Hudler chap. 12).

Nov. 10. The Psilocybe experience – interesting side products (Dighton; Hudler chap. 11)

Nov. 14. Complex life cycles-rusts, smuts, and others (White; Kendrick chaps 5, 2)

Nov. 17. Fungi and human health – medical matters (Dr. Amy Pappert, UMDNJ; Hudler chap. 7; Kendrick chap. 23).

Nov. 21. Fungi toxic to animals and humans (White; Hudler chap.5; Kendrick chap.

21,22).

Nov. 24. Thanksgiving vacation

Nov. 28. Lab-sampling and culture of common air fungi (Bischoff).

Dec. 1. Lab-visualizing mycorrhizae (Baxter; Kendrick chap 17)

Dec. 5. Group project oral presentations (20 min + 5 min questions).

Dec. 8. Group project oral presentations (20 min + 5 min questions).

Dec. 12. Final exam (essay format-100 pts).

Group project oral report (20 min. + 5 min. questions) 100 points

Group project written report (7 – 10 pages double spaced) 100 points

Final essay exam (open book) 100 points

Total 300 points

Grading: Grades will be determined on a 10 point scale as follows.

A = 90% or more = 270 or more points

B = 80-89.9% = 240-269 points

C = 70-79.9% = 210-239 points

D = 60-69.9% = 180-209 points

F = 59.9% or less = 179 or less points