Basidiomycetous fungi have specific ecological roles
being either (i) symbionts and endophytes as in lichens,
plant root mycorrhizas, leaves and needles, (ii) parasites
and pathogens for plants and animals, or (iii) saphrotrophs
responsible for conversion of plant lignocellulose
matter into simple sugars, oligosaccharides, and humic substances in soil [1–3]. The latter task is indispensable
for the Earth’s carbon cycle, in particular in
forest ecosystems, where enormous amounts of lignocellulose
from dead trees (trunks, litter) is biodegraded
mainly by specific basidiomycetous filamentous fungi
causing white or brown rot type of decay.