Kálmán Vánky: Smut Fungi of the World
2012, APSPress, XVII + 1458 pages, 650 line drawings, 2800 micrographs; 499 US$
This outstanding book is an essential tool for helping the scientific community to identify smut fungi everywhere. It includes keys to the genera and species and a host plant–smut fungus list and compiles more than 3,500 micrographs and line drawings into a single sourcebook.
This nearly 1,500-page treatise is authored by the worldwide authority on the subject, Dr. Kálmán Vánky, who has spent more than 50 years collecting and describing smut fungi species. The book provides complete and detailed presentations of species in 93 genera through descriptions and illustrations. The book updates our knowledge of valid scientific names and synonyms and provides taxonomic references and the host plant range of each species. Dr. Vánky’s passion for the topic shines through on every page through the excellent illustrations and detailed descriptions which complement each other to make identification easier. Having all content in a single volume allows the reader to flip back and forth between similar looking fungi for detailed comparison and analysis.
This is a must-have resource for diagnosticians working in agricultural and food labs. Mycologists, plant pathologists, molecular biologists, teachers and students, as well as amateurs will appreciate its clear, concise, and comprehensive descriptions
Chapters and content of the world monograph
Preface by Dr. Sándor Tóth (1918) (pg. III).
Introduction (V-VI).
Classification of the smut fungi and allied genera (IX-X).
Key to the genera of smut fungi based on host plant families (XI-XVII).
Detailed descriptions of the genera (93) and species belonging to them (1688), arranged alphabetically, including keys to the species.
For each species, after the nomenclatural data, the symptoms produced on the host plants are described (often illustrated by line drawings), the micrographs of the spores / spore balls /sterile cells (in LM and in SEM), enumeration of the host plants and a rough geographic distribution are given (1-1318 pp.).
Doubtful, excluded or invalidly published taxa (1319-1334).
Addenda (Description of 37 new species, published after the manuscript was finished) (1335-1343).
Selected smut fungus literature (1345-1409).
Genera of hosts and the smut species that affect them (1411-1428).
Index of fungal names (1429-1458).
The book was welcomed by the mycological community. Based on six (1-6) book reviews, is it characterised shortly, showing also some opinions (See the list of five book Reviews below).
(5): This monograph by Kálmán Vánky is a culmination of more than 50 years of dedicated work and passion for smut fungi. "...
(5): The author, who started studying smut fungi as an amateur while practising medicine, is now a world authority on the subject. He is currently the director of the richest and most comprehensive smut herbarium in the world (Herbarium Ustilaginales Vánky, HUV). He has written articles and books and has travelled to more than 50 countries covering all five continents collecting smut fungi, checking type collections in herbaria and personal collections.
(1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5): The sole attempt to publish a world monograph is that of Zundel (1953, 410 pp.). It appeared 8 years after the author passed away, contains many errors, was published lithographed, in a small number, nearly inaccessible, old-fashioned.
(3): The keenly-awaited world monograph of the smut fungi (2): is an astonishing publication, wonderfully presented, starting with ist fascinating cover . . . . . it occured to me that it might soon be regarded the 'Holy Book of Smut fungi' because is so impressive work.
(2): This book is a monumental work crowning more than half a century of Dr. Kálmán Vánky's life dedicated to this important and fascinating fungal group. (1): Only few smut fungi are common, but as plant pathogens they have a great economic importance. Most of the “classical” smut fungi are rare, therefore they are so interesting for research purposes.
(2): This book can already be regarded one of the most important contributions to mycology in the XXI century, and will certainly be the most important textbook for the smut fungi for decades to come.
Book reviews
(1) Klenke F. 2012. Buchrezension. - Zeitschrift für Mykologie 78:231-233.
(2) Soares D.J. 2012. Smut Fungi of the World - Inoculum 63:24.
(3) Denchev C. 2011. Book review - Mycologia Balcanica 8:146.
(4) Klenke F. 2012. Book review - Czech Mycology 64:233-234.
(5) Sharma N.D. 2012. Book reviews - Current Science 102:1316-1317.
(6) Samantha C. Karunarathna et al. 2013. Book reviews - Fungal Diversity 59:179.
