ectomycorrhizal fungi – Page 2

Tuber torulosum: A new truffle species decorated with moniliform cystidia from Japan

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Scientists have discovered a new truffle species called Tuber torulosum in Japan. This truffle can be identified by its unique bead-like structures on its surface and distinctive spore patterns under a microscope. The discovery adds to our understanding of truffle diversity in East Asia and suggests these truffles may have a wider distribution across the region than previously known.

Diversity and effect of Trichoderma isolated from the roots of Pinus densiflora within the fairy ring of pine mushroom (Tricholoma matsutake)

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This research examines the different types of Trichoderma fungi found in soil and roots where pine mushrooms grow. Scientists identified nine different Trichoderma species and tested how their chemical compounds affect pine mushroom growth. Some Trichoderma species helped pine mushrooms grow better, while others hindered growth. These findings suggest that managing beneficial Trichoderma could help improve pine mushroom cultivation in the future.

Strain and contact-dependent metabolomic reprogramming reveals distinct interaction strategies between Laccaria bicolor and Trichoderma

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This research explores how two types of soil fungi interact with each other through chemical signals. When Trichoderma (a beneficial biocontrol fungus) encounters Laccaria bicolor (a helpful fungus that aids plant growth), they communicate through airborne volatile compounds and secreted chemicals. The study found that these fungi employ different strategies depending on how close they are to each other, changing their chemical production to either compete or coexist, which has implications for improving agricultural biocontrol applications.

Genetic variation among progeny shapes symbiosis in a basidiomycete with poplar

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This research examines how different genetic variations within a single fungal species affect its ability to form beneficial partnerships with poplar tree roots. Scientists studied 40 genetically distinct fungal strains derived from the same parent and found that they varied greatly in their success at colonizing tree roots, ranging from complete failure to excellent colonization. By analyzing the genes and gene expression of these strains, the team identified specific genetic regions that influence symbiosis formation and discovered that genetic diversity within this fungal species plays an important role in how effectively forest ecosystems function.

An evaluation of the occurrence and trends in 137Cs and 40K radioactivity in King Bolete Boletus edulis mushrooms in Poland during 1995–2019

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This study tracked radioactive contamination in King Bolete mushrooms across Poland over 25 years following the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear accident. Researchers found that radioactive caesium levels were highest 10-20 years after the accident, peaking in the 1990s, because radioactive particles slowly moved deeper into soil where mushroom roots feed. While people who eat wild mushrooms from Poland were exposed to some radioactivity, serious health risks were uncommon, and contamination has significantly decreased in recent years.

Climate change impacts on the distribution of valuable Thelephora fungi in China

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This study examines how climate change will affect the distribution of four valuable edible fungi species in China and surrounding regions. Using computer models, researchers predict that warming temperatures will push these fungi northward by 2090, though their habitats may shrink by 2050 under high-emission scenarios. The research suggests that replanting forests with the correct host trees could help protect these economically important fungi from climate change impacts.

Whole-Genome Sequencing and Comparative Genomics Analysis of the Wild Edible Mushroom (Gomphus purpuraceus) Provide Insights into Its Potential Food Application and Artificial Domestication

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Scientists sequenced the complete genetic code of Gomphus purpuraceus, a wild mushroom eaten in southwest China for hundreds of years. By comparing its genes to other edible mushrooms, researchers discovered it likely forms beneficial partnerships with trees and can break down some plant material. The study shows this mushroom can efficiently use simple sugars like sucrose and maltose for growth, which could help farmers grow it commercially while preserving this rare species.

Mycorrhizal network: a bidirectional pathway between green-leaved terrestrial orchids and pine trees

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Underground fungal networks connect plant roots like a trading system. Scientists studied how three types of orchids and pine trees exchange carbon and nitrogen through these fungal connections. They found that each orchid species trades resources differently, with carbon consistently flowing from pine to orchids, but nitrogen movement varying by species. This shows that these underground networks are more complex and flexible than previously thought.

In vitro interactions between Bradyrhizobium spp. and Tuber magnatum mycelium

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Scientists have successfully grown white truffle mycelium in the laboratory for the first time by discovering its natural partnership with nitrogen-fixing bacteria called Bradyrhizobium. These bacteria and the truffle mycelium need each other to survive and grow together on culture medium. This breakthrough could revolutionize white truffle cultivation, which is currently difficult and expensive, by allowing farmers to grow truffle-producing plants more efficiently in controlled conditions.

New insights into Cortinarius: Novel taxa from subtropical China

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Scientists studying mushroom diversity in subtropical China have discovered and formally named several new species of Cortinarius mushrooms, a type that forms beneficial relationships with forest trees. By examining the mushrooms’ physical characteristics and analyzing their DNA, researchers identified one new section, six completely new species, and several other previously undescribed forms. These findings demonstrate that subtropical China harbors remarkable fungal diversity that is still largely unknown to science, and more species are likely waiting to be discovered in this region’s forests.

Research Keyword: ectomycorrhizal fungi