P. Samuel, L. Prince and P. Prabakaran
Marine fungi are an ecological rather than a taxonomic group and comprise an estimated 1500 species, excluding those that form lichens. They occur in most marine habitats and generally have a pantropical or pantemperate distribution. Their importance lies in their ability to produce pharmaceutically valuable secondary metabolites. They may be important in the degradation of dead animals and animal parts. Marine fungi are important pathogens of plants and animals and also form symbiotic relationships with other organisms. Hence a concerted effort has been made to investigate the diversity along the south east coast of Tamilnadu.
