ABSTRACT
Before beginning a consideration of special topics dealing with edible mushrooms and their cultivation, one should have a basic understanding of the biology of fungi in general. Those readers who already have such an understanding may skim through this chapter, pausing only long enough to become familiar with the terminology that we have elected to use. Readers who have never had formal instruction in a course in mycology (the study of the fungi) or read carefully in mycological textbooks covering classification (taxonomy), structure (morphology), function (physiology), inheritance (genetics), as well as the multitudinous and often complex patterns of reproduction exhibited by fungi, will find that reading this section makes for an easier comprehension and appreciation of all that follows.
