Modern polyphasic methods that include MALDI-TOF analyses for fungal identifications and authentications

Abstract

[Excerpt] The identification of species is an important goal in taxonomic mycology. Information about each fungus (e.g. morphological description, physiological and biochemical properties, ecological roles, and societal risks or benefits) is the key element in this process. Identifications can be a long and seemingly never-ending process with frequent revisions of the taxonomic schemes. These changes make identifications even more complicated for the non specialised researchers as each taxonomic group has specialized literature, terminology and characters. This occurs to the extend that identifications can only be undertaken by a narrow group of scientists especially skilled in the "art", which can make the procedures appear to be subjective. [...]