Book review

Błaszkowski J. 2012. Glomeromycota. 
W. Szafer Institute of Botany Polish Academy of 
Sciences, Kraków, p. 304. ISBN: 978-83-89648-82-2 

The monograph “Glomeromycota” written by Pro-
fessor Janusz Błaszkowski is a unique publication 
in the mycological literature. This is the first world-
wide comprehensive description of highly impor-
tant soil fungi, which form arbuscular mycorrhizae 
(AMF) with a vast majority of world’s plants (70–
90 %). Although the fungal group is not numerous 
(ca. 220 species), its representative occur in any 
type of soil around the globe. The profound knowl-
edge and detailed description provided in the mon-
ograph contribute to the Author’s unquestionable 
success, which can be attributed to the impressive 

amount of work, determination, and perseverance as well as fascination with these 
fungi. A noteworthy fact is that mycorrhizal relationships had been discovered by a 
Pole, Franciszek Kamieński (1881), over 130 years before the year of publication of 
the work (2012).

The monograph comprises 137 species, which constitutes over half (62 %) of 
fungi from this group recognised so far. A great majority of the listed species origi-
nate from Author’s own collections, and many of them are known exclusively from 
Poland. The study material was collected from the rhizosphere of both crop plants 
and wild-growing vegetation. Various techniques were used for identification of the 
fungi, including biochemical and molecular analyses, scanning electron microscopy 
as well as various techniques of light microscopy were employed for preparation of 
graphic documentation.

The editorial aspect of the book reveals great diligence and accurateness, which 
is also visible in its large format (A4). The book provides the most relevant informa-
tion about the history of the knowledge of these fungi, classification, research (field 
and laboratory) methods, and habitat and substrate preference. Each species is fully 
described in terms of its morphological structures, basonyms, a full list of synonyms, 
and literature concerning its distribution range (in Poland and worldwide). Addition-
ally, the phylogenetic position of the species has been discussed and lists of plants 
with which they form mycorrhizal relationships have been provided. Another great 
value of the work is the excellent microphotographic documentation of microscopic 

ACTA MYCOLOGICA
Vol. 48 (1): 133–134

2013
DOI: 10.5586/am.2013.015



134 W Mułenko 

preparations made by the Author himself during verification or originating from 
other research units. The description sections are preceded by dichotomous keys 
for identification of fungi within successive taxonomic units – orders, families, and 
genera. These elements of the documentation make the work an ideal source of 
information for further diagnostics of fungi excluding the necessity of carrying out 
molecular analyses. The list of literature references is particularly extensive, as it 
includes both the oldest and the most recent papers. The final section presents very 
useful indexes of fungal, plant and locality names. Generic or species taxa are ad-
ditionally described by extremely interesting information concerning the etymology 
of these names. 

The work impresses with its considerable substantive value. The knowledge of 
species is a fundamental element in investigations of species diversity and recogni-
tion of mechanisms that rule phenomena occurring in the ecosystem. Knowledge 
of fungi, particularly of soil fungal species is essential. In this group, the key role 
is played by mutualistic symbionts, including the Glomeromycota described in the 
book.

Undoubtedly, the book will be helpful not only to mycologists, but also botanists 
and ecologists; therefore, it should find its place in every library of natural sciences. 

Wiesław Mułenko 


		2013-06-22T22:31:55+0100
	Polish Botanical Society