Special Issue "Genetic and Functional Diversity of Microorganisms"

Guest Editor
Dr. Ipek Kurtboke
Environmental Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Health and Education, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore DC, Queensland 4558, Australia
Website: http://www.usc.edu.au/University/AcademicFaculties/Science/Staff/Kurtböke.htm
E-Mail:
Interests: microbial diversity; microbial systematics; ecophysiology of microorganisms; functional diversity of microorganisms; microbial ecosystems

Dear Colleagues,

Advanced molecular analyses indicate that there is still unexplored microbial diversity to be mined in ecosystems. Information revealed through microbial diversity measurements based on genetic variability, population size, distribution and function of targeted species within microbial communities can now bring about a new level of understanding of the interactions in microbial ecosystems. The availability of such information is also crucial in the design of sustainable environmental strategies.

Diversity journal dedicates a special issue to the Genetic and functional diversity of microorganisms to explore these aspects. I look forward to your contribution to make it a successful collection of papers.

Dr. Ipek Kurtboke
Guest Editor

Related Journal

• Genes - an Open Access journal of genetics and genomics.

Submission Information

All manuscripts should be submitted to diversity@mdpi.org with a copy to the Guest Editor. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. Papers will be published continuously (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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

For the first two issues, to be published in 2009 and 2010, the Article Processing Charges (APC) will be waived for well-prepared manuscripts. English correction and/or formatting fees of 250 CHF (Swiss Francs) will be charged in certain cases for those articles accepted for publication that require extensive additional formatting and/or English corrections.

• microbial diversity
• functional diversity
• microbial metabolic diversity
• genetic diversity of microorganisms
• microbial ecosystems
• microbial systematics
• microbial ecosystem mining

Type of Paper: Review
Title: News and Doubts about Truffles
Authors: Maria Sica, Luciano Gaudio and Serena Aceto
Affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Section of Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80134 Napoli, Italy; E-Mail: m.sica@unina.it (M.S.)
Abstract: Truffles are ectomycorrhizal fungi, which are considered to be living fossils, that establish symbiosis with vascular plants. Some species have been known since Egyptian, Roman and Greek times and are highly appreciated for their fine taste and smell. Species like Tuber magnatum Pico (white truffle) and Tuber melanosporum Vitt. (black truffle) are considered “diamond food” due to their high economic value. Studies on edible ectomycorrhizal fungi have been focused mainly on their ecology and phylogeography. During the past few decades, molecular techniques have clarified several aspects of truffle biology, and web resources have helped researchers to create a “tuber network” connecting all scientists interested in truffles. Here we present the state of the art on truffle research, with particular emphasis on genetic variability and biodiversity.
Key words: biodiversity; truffles; tuber; phylogeography; molecular markers