This research examined how mushroom colonies of Suillus granulatus form and spread in white pine forests. The study revealed that these fungi can create genetically diverse colonies through a combination of spore dispersal and underground growth. This has important implications for forest health and ecosystem functioning. Impacts on everyday life: • Helps understand how beneficial fungi spread in forest ecosystems • Provides insights for sustainable forest management practices • Contributes to knowledge about mushroom cultivation potential • Improves understanding of plant-fungal relationships in nature • May aid in conservation of forest ecosystems