The pace of research on fungi has been accelerating over the past decade. As a result, molecular, biochemical and cell biological studies have opened up new areas of investigation for many of the most important fungal pathogens of crop plants. Similarly, these approaches have provided new information on fungal pathogens of animals and insects, and on fungal endophytes. The collection of chapters in this book provides an excellent update on recent progress for many of the important plant pathogenic fungi that either cause significant economic problems or that serve as useful experimental organisms for gaining general insights. The inclusion of chapters on other fungi will allow readers to make comparisons and draw parallels between a variety of pathogens. In this regard, this book provides a unique perspective that will be valuable to a wide range of readers from senior undergraduates to senior investigators.