Research Keyword: marine fungi

Novel epiphytic root-fungus symbiosis in the Indo-Pacific seagrass Thalassodendron ciliatum from the Red Sea

Scientists discovered a new partnership between seagrass roots and fungi in the Red Sea. Unlike similar relationships found in Mediterranean seagrass, this symbiosis involves fungi that coat the root surface without growing inside. The fungi’s dark pigments may help preserve organic material in seabed sediments, potentially contributing to carbon storage in marine ecosystems.

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Exploring Fungal Diversity in Marine Plastic (PET) Wastes and Seafoam in Udo Island, South Korea, with Reports of Two New Species

Researchers collected fungi from plastic waste and seafoam on a South Korean island and identified 45 different types, including two completely new species never described before. These findings show that marine fungi are diverse and may help break down plastic or participate in ocean nutrient cycling. The study highlights how even seemingly temporary habitats like seafoam and pollution sources like plastic waste can harbor unique and important fungal communities.

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Five New Hypocrealean Species from Algae and Sediment in the Intertidal Zones of China

Scientists discovered five new types of fungi living in the ocean and sandy/muddy shores of China. These fungi were found in seaweed and seafloor sediments and were identified using both traditional microscopy and modern genetic analysis. The study shows that ocean environments in China likely contain many more species of fungi than previously documented. These fungi have various ecological roles including breaking down organic matter, and some species in related groups are being studied for uses in food production, medicine, and pest control.

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Differential hypo-osmotic stress responses and regulatory mechanisms of Aspergillus sydowii in amphipod guts and hadal sediments

Scientists isolated a fungus from the gut of deep-sea amphipods in the Mariana Trench and discovered how it uniquely adapts to low-salt conditions. Unlike other fungal strains from different habitats, this gut fungus showed special abilities to survive and even thrive when salt levels dropped dramatically. The researchers found that the fungus rapidly rewired its genes and cellular structures to maintain water balance and protect itself, revealing how life in extreme deep-sea environments drives evolution of novel survival strategies.

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