A brief Report on COEIC-2017 held at Centre of Excellence in Fungal Research, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, Thailand, during 11-13 Jan 2017.........

Prologue:

International Conference, ‘Towards a Natural Classification & Industrial Utilization of Fungi (COEIC-2017)’, held during 11-13 Jan 2017 at the Centre of Fungal Research, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, Thailand, was conceptualised by Dr Kevin D. Hyde, Director of Centre of Excellence in Fungal Research, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, Thailand, and his research students to mark 80 years of distinguished living and service of the world renowned marine mycologist, Prof E B Gareth Jones under whose guidance Prof. Hyde and a host of students were graduated with doctoral degrees on varied mycological subjects, viz. taxonomy, biology, ecology and utilization of fungi...

A day-before:

Invited guests and registered delegates from Thailand and overseas arrived a day before and a few of them even before that.... I was invited as one of the keynote speakers at the Conference and reached MFLU on 10 Jan 2017.  The delegates and invited speakers were accommodated in various guest houses in the picturesque Mae Fah Luang University campus which is popularly called ‘A University in a Park’! Undoubtedly, Mae Fah Luang University located about 15 km away from the city of Chiang Rai on the Chiang Rai-Mae Sai highway, is a magnificent campus. The main building-complex is very imposing and taking a picture with the buildings in the background will be anybody’s dream-come-true wish...

Within the University campus, I was put up at ‘Wanasom Resort & Spa’, with an overview of a serene lake, is a wonderful place to stay in Chaing Rai......!

Day-1(11/01/2017)

Inauguration:

Dr Kevin D. Hyde, chief organiser of the programme welcomed the guests and delegates. In his opening remarks, he narrated the reason for holding the event and traced in detail the family and academic life of Prof E.B. Gareth Jones whose 80^th birthday celebration was part of the programme.  A documentary on Prof Gareth’s life prepared by his students was presented during the inaugural session. Dr Hyde added that another renowned mycologist Dr Eric McKenzie, Landcare Labs, New Zealand, closely associated with the Centre of Excellence in Fungal Research, also completed 70 years of distinguished service and living. A number of students graduated under the guidance of Prof Gareth Jones during his long service in Portsmouth Polytechnic, UK, and in Thailand had attended the Conference.

The President of Mae Fah Luang University, Dr Vanchai Sirichama, in his inaugural address elaborated on the academic and research activities and highlighted the major achievements of the University in the short span of 18 years of its existence and specially lauded the efforts made by the Director, staff and students of Centre of Excellence in Fungal Research by contributing high quality research publications since inception and declared the conference open.

Session I: Marine and Freshwater Fungi:  

In his Keynote Address, taxonomy and diversity of wood-degrading marine fungi, Prof E.B. Gareth Jones, formerly Professor in Portsmouth Polytechnic, UK, reviewed the growth of marine mycology in general and his personal contributions towards the understanding of taxonomy, biology, ecology and utilization of marine mycota. Prof Gareth was felicitated at the hands of Dr Eric McKenzie who chaired the first session. Five papers, presented during the session, dealt in detail on diversity of marine, freshwater, mangrove and manglicolous fungi in sea waters and fungal diversity and sec metabolites of deep-sea sediment fungi in the s-e-Asian region. Some of the papers presented on the subject by young scholars were rich in their contents and truly excellent.....

 

Session II: Plant Pathology:

Dr Joanne E. Taylor of Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, in her keynote address dealt at length on ‘The tree microbiome as part of the extended phenotypes’. Papers on ecological speciation of phytopathogenic fungi, fungal plant-biocontrol agents, Botryospheariaceae, genetic diversity of Fusarium oxysporum cubense, Tar-spot diseases and fruit-crop diseases caused by fungi were presented by different speakers in this session.

The day was concluded with a grand welcome diner hosted by the Organisers of the Conference.

 

Day 2 (12/01/2017)

Session 3:  Phylogeny and Evolution of Fungi:

Chaired by Prof Gareth Jones and Dr Sarenyphath Boonmee, the session commenced with two keynote addresses entitled (i) ‘Establishing new fungal species: ramifications and recommendations’ by Dr Rajesh Jeeewon of University of Mauritius, followed by (ii) ‘OFF, ON – did something change? One fungus-One name and its effect on Basidiomycetous fungi’ by Dr Eric McKenzie, Formerly, Landcare Research, New Zealand. Four excellent oral papers were presented on different aspects of fungal phylogeny and taxonomy by young mycologists of the region in this session.

 

 Session 4, Fungal Systematics   

Chaired by Drs Puttarack Chomnunti and Ratchadwan Cheewangkoon, the afternoon session began with a keynote address entitled ‘Conidiogenesis in Ascomycota: A perusal from current taxonomic perspective’ by Prof. D. Jayarama Bhat, Formerly, Department of Botany, Goa University, India, followed by 5 oral presentations on subjects such as bamboolicolous fungi, systematics of Diaporthales, Chaetothyriales and Sydowiellaceae.

The day ended with a surprise but wonderfully organised, grand 80^th birthday celebration of Prof E.B. Gareth Jones in whose recognition this Conference was conducted. I took the opportunity to greet Prof Gareth on his 80^th birthday, with a traditional shawl, from India. The event with several cultural programmes by research students went on well with plenty to eat and cherish...

 Day 3 (13/01/2017)

Session 5: Ecological and economic roles of fungi across the SE Asian region:

Drs Samantha Chandrakanth Karunaratna and  Peter Motimer chaired the session. Dr Peter Mortimer of Kunming Institute of Botany, China, delivered the keynote address entitled ‘Landscape scale distribution models and diversity of mushrooms in SE Asian forests’. In all, 7 papers were presented on different aspects of mushroom biology and economics. Mushrooms being a popular culinary and medicinal subject of the region, topics of these papers became the focal theme of enthusiastic discussions during the whole day.

Session 6: Fungal Biotechnology

Chaired by Dr Nattawat Booneyen and Ms Benjarong Thongbai the session, Prof. Marc Stadler, Mikrobielle Wirkstoffe, Germany, delivered the keynote address entitled ‘Phylogeny and functional biodiversity of Xylariaceae’. Four papers were presented in the session on various aspects of fungal biotechnology and economics.

Session 7: Ranking and Evolution

Chaired by Dr. Sinag Hongsanan and Prof Marc Stadler, of Mae Fah Luang University, Thailand, the session witnessed presentation of four papers on fungal ranking and evolution. It was interesting to note that the scholars were able to trace the evolutionary lineages of fungi based on molecular evidences and statistical analyses.

Poster-paper presentation

During the Conference, 25 excellent poster papers, on varied aspects of fungal taxonomy, molecular biology, utilization and bioeconomics, were displayed and explained by young scholars of the s-e-Asian region.

End of day 3, the conference was declared closed by Prof. Kevin D. Hyde.

Epilogue:

Undoubtedly, this is a well-organised International Conference. Excellent papers were presented or displayed during the 3 days. I congratulate the organisers for their untiring efforts which made the programme a grand success. This meticulously organised and academically rich event is one more feather in the achievements of Centre of Excellence in Fungal Research, Mae Fah Luang University, Thailand........

By:

D. Jayarama Bhat

Formerly, Department of Botany, Goa University

Picturesque campus and main building of Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, Thailand

Prof. D. Jayarama Bhat in front of Mae Fah Luang University.............

Wanasom Resort & Spa, in Mae Fah Luang University campus, where the invited guests are put up during the Conference........ 

Prof E.B.Gareth Jones, facilitated by the President of Mae Fah Luang University, Dr. Vanchai Sirichama  

Prof. Dr Kevin D. Hyde, Director of Centre of Excellence in Fungal Research and Chief Organiser of the programme welcoming the guests and delegates....

Prof. E.B. Gareth Jones, delivering his keynote address,  Taxonomy and diversity of wood-degrading marine fungi, at Session 1..........

Participants attending the Conference.........

Dr Joanne E. Taylor of Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, delivering keynote address ‘The tree microbiome as part of the extended phenotypes’,  at Session 2........

Welcome dinner on day 1....

Keynote address 1, ‘Establishing new fungal species: ramifications and recommendations’ by Dr Rajesh Jeeewon of University of Mauritius at Session 3... 

Keynote address 2, 'OF, ON – did something change? One fungus-One name and its effect on Basidiomycetous fungi’ by Dr Eric McKenzie, Formerly, Landcare Research, New Zealand at Session 3.....

 

Keynote address ‘Conidiogenesis in Ascomycota: A perusal from current taxonomic perspective’ by Prof. D. Jayarama Bhat, Formerly, Department of Botany, Goa University, India, at Session 4..

Prof. Bhat felicitating Prof E.B. Gareth Jones, on his 80th birthday......

Dr Peter Mortimer, Kunming Institute of Botany, China, delivering keynote address in Session 5..

 

Dr. Marc Stadler, Mikrobielle Wirkstoffe, Germany, delivering the keynote address entitled ‘Phylogeny and functional biodiversity of Xylariaceae’ in Session 6..... 

Invited delegates at the Conference........