News

MycoAsia Applies for COPE Membership (23 September 2025)

MycoAsia has formally submitted its application for membership of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) on 23 September 2025.
This step reflects our commitment to internationally recognized standards in research integrity, editorial best practices, and ethical oversight across all stages of publication. We will update our community once COPE completes its review process. [Published on 10.10.2025].

Prof. K. R. Sridhar is the new Editor-in-Chief of MycoAsia

MycoAsia Journal of Modern Mycology is pleased to announce that Prof. Kandikere Ramaiah Sridhar is the new Editor-in-Chief of MycoAsia, effective today. Prof. Sridhar is a distinguished mycologist recognized for his pioneering work on fungal ecology, aquatic and marine fungi, and biodiversity in tropical regions. He brings decades of research, teaching, and editorial leadership to the journal. As Editor-in-Chief, Prof. Sridhar will lead the journal’s editorial vision, maintain rigorous peer-review standards, and strengthen MycoAsia’s global reach. [Published on 10.10.2025]

New manuscript submission form is live

We are pleased to announce that MycoAsia website has been updated: https://mycoasia.org/. A new manuscript submission form is now available, designed to provide a more professional and seamless experience compared to our earlier system. We encourage prospective authors to explore the form and share feedback on its functionality. [Published on 03.10.2025]

MycoAsia — World Fungus Day 2025: AI-Logo Competition (Open Call)

Show us your smartest, fungi-forward AI logo for World Fungus Day 2025.

How to enter
Create: An original AI-generated logo celebrating fungi and the MycoAsia mission.
Submit by: 1 October 2025
Email: contact@mycoasia.org (subject: AI-Logo Competition – Your Name)
Attach: PNG/SVG (3000px+ or vector), plus 1–2 lines on the idea/tools used.
Who can enter: Students, researchers, designers—anyone who loves fungi.

Recognition & rewards
Certificates: All contributors receive a Certificate of Participation.
Prizes: Top 5 entries get Amazon vouchers*.

Judging criteria
Relevance to World Fungus Day & MycoAsia
Originality and visual impact
Clarity, scalability, and usability across print/web

Notes
You must own rights to all assets used; no copyrighted or trademarked elements.
By submitting, you grant MycoAsia permission to showcase your logo (with credit) across our platforms.
*Vouchers: value and regional availability subject to terms & conditions.

Questions? Ping contact@mycoasia.org.

MycoAsia Journal Launches “Fungal Findings” Video Series

MycoAsia is now creating short video summaries for all our published papers! Watch our first video on Marine Fungal Diversity here: https://youtu.be/oKeVPQdL-30?si=78mtGBZMp04aFH7F . Please subscribe to our channel for more videos: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCseObPvtuU7AZf_9YFNVzcQ. And please share widely! Thank you for your support. [Published on 16.9.2025]

MycoAsia is Officially Indexed in the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ)

We are thrilled to announce that MycoAsia – Journal of Modern Mycology, has been officially accepted and indexed in the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ). This is a momentous achievement for our journal and a testament to the quality and scientific rigor of the research we publish. Inclusion in DOAJ, a globally recognized and respected index of high-quality, open-access, peer-reviewed journals, significantly enhances the visibility, accessibility, and credibility of our publication within the international scientific community. This milestone would not have been possible without the unwavering support of our dedicated authors, meticulous reviewers, esteemed editorial board members, and our growing community of readers. We extend our sincerest gratitude to each one of you for your invaluable contributions. Being indexed in DOAJ reaffirms our commitment to upholding the highest standards of publishing ethics and providing a premier platform for mycological research that is freely accessible to all. We invite the mycology community to celebrate this achievement with us and encourage you to submit your high-quality research for publication in MycoAsia. Submit your research: https://mycoasia.org/. Thank you once again for your continued support. [Published on 15.9.2025]

Exciting Initiative: Plain Language Summaries Now Live for All MycoAsia Articles

We are thrilled to announce a significant and exciting development for our journal. We have successfully implemented Plain Language Summaries (PLS) across our entire archive of published papers. This initiative is a major step forward in our commitment to making mycological research accessible to the widest possible audience. Now, anyone—from students and educators to policymakers and the general public—can quickly grasp the key findings and significance of the complex research we publish. This enhancement not only increases the visibility and impact of our authors’ work but also firmly positions MycoAsia at the forefront of the Open Science and Science Communication (#SciComm) movements. By breaking down barriers to understanding, we are helping to foster a more scientifically engaged community. We invite you all to visit the website to see this fantastic new feature in action: https://mycoasia.org/ . This is a proud achievement for our journal, and we thank you for your continued dedication to its mission. [Published on 14.9.2025]

MycoAsia Launches the Directory of MycoAsians to Foster Collaboration

MycoAsia is proud to announce the launch of the Directory of MycoAsians, a comprehensive resource aimed at connecting mycologists from or working in Asia. This initiative is designed to enhance networking, encourage collaboration, and showcase the vibrant community of fungal researchers in the region. The directory provides a valuable list of scientists, from students to senior researchers, detailing their affiliation, position, and specific research interests. This allows users to easily find experts in various sub-disciplines of mycology, paving the way for new research partnerships and knowledge exchange. We believe this directory will serve as a cornerstone for building a more integrated and collaborative Asian mycological community. We invite all mycologists active in the region to join this growing network. The Directory of MycoAsians is now available to view. [Published on 12.9.2025]

Celebrate World Fungus Day 2025 with a special online workshop!

Are you a researcher in mycology? Wondering how AI is changing scientific publishing? Join me, Dr. Belle Shenoy, Editor-in-Chief of MycoAsia for a live online workshop: “How to Write, Review, and Edit Mycology Manuscripts in the Era of AI”. Learn to ethically and effectively use AI tools to improve your research papers, from the first draft to the final submission. This session is perfect for students and early-career scientists.

Date: Saturday, 4th October 2025
Time: 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM Indian Standard Time (GMT+5:30)
Where: Online – Google Meet

Bonus: All attendees will receive a participation certificate with my autograph!

A Sincere Thank You to Our MycoAsia Reviewers

On behalf of the entire editorial team at MycoAsia, we extend our deepest gratitude for your invaluable service as a peer reviewer. Your expertise, critical insights, and the generous contribution of your time are the cornerstones of our journal’s integrity and success. The rigor and quality of the scholarly work we publish are a direct reflection of your meticulous efforts and commitment. In a demanding academic world, your willingness to volunteer for this critical task does not go unnoticed, and we are profoundly appreciative. We would like to take this opportunity to formally acknowledge and thank the following individuals for their recent contributions:

Dr. Aditi Pandit
Dr. Ajay Gautam
Dr. Allen Grace Niego
Dr. Anjali Patil
Dr. Arun Kumar Dutta
Dr. Ashish Vyas
Dr. Avneet Pal Singh
Dr. Balvinder Singh
Dr. Bruno Goto
Dr. Carlos Rojas
Prof. Changlin Zhao
Dr. CK Pradeep
Dr. Deepika Mishra
Dr. Eric Mckenzie
Dr. Gnanesh Nanjappa
Dr. Gunjan Sharma
Dr. Iqbal Hosen
Dr. Joginder Singh Panwar
Dr. Jonathan Jaime Guerrero
Dr. K. Manjusha
Dr. K.G.Sameera U. Ariyawansa
Dr. Ka-Lai Pang
Dr. Kamran Zaman
Dr. Kandikere Ramaiah Sridhar
Dr. Krishna Kumari
Dr. Lei Cai
Dr. Mahadevakumar S
Dr. Monika Dayarathne
Dr. Mubashar Raza
Dr. Munazza Kiran
Dr. Nattawut Boonyuen
Dr. Neelamanie Yapa
Dr. Niranjan W Gunasekara
Dr. Nisha Singh
Dr Nischitha R
Dr. Patricia Velez Aguilar
Dr. Paulina Bawingan
Dr. Rajesh Jeewon
Dr. Rajnish K. Verma
Dr. Rajul Tomar
Dr. Ravindra Kumar
Dr. RC Upadhyay
Dr. Rohit Sharma|
Dr. Sajay Singh
Dr. Samina Sarwar
Dr. Samir Damare
Dr. Sandip P. Patil
Dr. Sanjeeva Nayaka
Dr. Sarma VV
Dr. Seena Sahadevan
Dr. Sherin Varghese
Shri Shivaprakash Nedle
Dr. Shruthi Vasanth
Dr. Soumitra
Dr. Sripriya Nannu Shankar
Dr. Steve Stephenson
Dr. Sudeep Ghate
Dr. Sudipto Saha
Dr. Sunil Kumar Deshmukh
Dr. Surya Sudheer
Dr. Sujata Dabolkar
Dr. Syed G. Dastager
Dr. Thatsanee Luangharn
Dr. TK Arun Kumar
Dr. TN Lakhanpal
Dr. Tran TM Hanh
Dr. Udeni Jayalal
Dr. Varada Damare
Dr. Vinay Kumar Halluru
Dr. Vineet Meshram
Dr. Vinit Kumar
Dr. Yamini Agrawal
…and our anonymous reviewers who provide invaluable feedback.

Thank you once again for upholding the high standards of our discipline and for helping to shape the future of mycological research. We are honored to have you as part of our community. [Updated on 9.9.2025. Missing reviewers’ names can be reported to contact@mycoasia.org.]

Call for Reviewers and Editors: Join the MycoAsia Team!

MycoAsia, a premier Journal of Modern Mycology, is built on the foundation of rigorous, constructive peer review. The expertise and dedication of our reviewers and editors are what ensure the quality and impact of the research we publish. As our journal continues to grow, we are expanding our pool of experts. We are pleased to invite researchers, academics, and professionals with expertise in mycology and its related fields to join our community as Peer Reviewers or Editors. This is an excellent opportunity to contribute to the scientific community, stay at the forefront of mycological research, and help shape the future of the discipline. How to Apply? Thank you for your interest in contributing to MycoAsia. If you would like to serve as a reviewer or editor, please fill out our short application form. Your details will help us match you with suitable manuscripts that align with your specific expertise, ensuring a meaningful and efficient review process. Please submit your details here: https://forms.gle/VTRirXgbL6wEEWCF7. We look forward to welcoming new members to our team and working together to advance the field of mycology. [Published on 8.9.2025]

MycoAsia is not a predatory journal!

Here are the key factors that establish MycoAsia as a non-predatory journal:

No Publication Fees: MycoAsia operates on a “Diamond” Open Access model, which means it does not charge authors any publication fees or Article Processing Charges (APCs). This removes the core financial incentive that drives predatory publishing, as the journal does not profit from accepting manuscripts. Its goal is the dissemination of knowledge, not revenue generation from authors.

Rigorous and Transparent Peer Review: Predatory journals are characterized by a lack of legitimate peer review. In contrast, MycoAsia has a clearly articulated “Fast & Rigorous Review” process. The journal details a multi-stage workflow that includes an initial quality screening, assignment to a specialist Handling Editor, evaluation by expert reviewers, and a final decision made by the Editor-in-Chief. The journal also provides a target timeline of 8-10 weeks for this process, demonstrating a commitment to an efficient but structured and thorough evaluation.

Credible and Verifiable Leadership: Predatory journals often feature fake editorial boards or list academics without their permission. MycoAsia, however, was founded by and is run by “leading mycologists of Asia”. Its editorial board is composed of distinguished international experts with verifiable affiliations and publication records. The Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Belle Damodara Shenoy, is a Senior Principal Scientist at CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography in India with an extensive and easily verifiable publication history. This high level of transparency and the strong academic standing of its leadership are key indicators of a legitimate scholarly enterprise.

Adherence to Publication Ethics: The journal explicitly states its commitment to the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) to identify and prevent scientific misconduct, including plagiarism, data fabrication, and authorship disputes. It has a clear process for investigating complaints and holds its own editorial board to these ethical standards.

External Validation through Indexing: While the journal is still working towards inclusion in top-tier databases like Scopus and Web of Science, it has successfully secured indexing in the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ). Inclusion in DOAJ is a widely recognized sign of legitimacy, as it requires journals to adhere to a high standard of open-access publishing practices, including a robust peer-review system.

Focus on Community Building: Unlike predatory outlets that simply solicit papers, MycoAsia actively invests in the scientific community it serves. It hosts a YouTube channel with international seminars and “MasterClass” sessions, encourages post-publication discussion, and is dedicated to advancing fungal research with a focus on Asia. These activities demonstrate a genuine mission to foster collaboration and advance the field of mycology, which is inconsistent with the motives of a predatory publisher. [Published on 8.9.2025]

Publication Announcement: Studies of Nivicolous Myxomycetes

We are pleased to announce the publication of a new research article in MycoAsia: Studies of Nivicolous Myxomycetes by Steven L. Stephenson, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, USA. 🔗 Read the full article here: https://mycoasia.org/studies-of-nivicolous-myxomycetes/ . This paper documents decades of research on snowbank myxomycetes, a fascinating ecological group restricted to alpine habitats across the Rocky Mountains, Himalayas, Southern Alps of New Zealand, and the Snowy Mountains of Australia. The study provides valuable insights into their diversity, distribution, and unique ecological adaptations. We invite researchers, students, and enthusiasts of mycology and ecology to explore this contribution to the understanding of alpine biodiversity. [Published on 8.9.2025]

Just published in MycoAsia: “Myxomycetes within the scope of the Island Biogeography Theory” by Steven L. Stephenson and Carlos Rojas

This research analyzes myxomycete data from 12 oceanic islands. The results suggest that island age is an important factor in their distribution and that the observed species patterns support long-distance dispersal as a key colonization mechanism. Read the full open-access paper here: https://mycoasia.org/myxomycetes-within-the-scope-of-the-island-biogeography-theory/ [Published on 8.9.2025]