This research investigated a viral disease that causes mushrooms to turn brown, making them unmarketable. The scientists discovered that a virus similar to those found in plants and fungi is responsible for the browning. They found that the virus can exist at two different levels in mushrooms – a low level that doesn’t cause visible symptoms and a high level that causes browning. The findings are important for the mushroom industry and our understanding of how viruses interact with fungi. Impacts on everyday life: – Helps mushroom farmers detect disease earlier before visible symptoms appear – Could lead to better disease control methods to maintain mushroom quality – Contributes to food security by protecting commercial mushroom crops – May reduce food waste by preventing crop losses – Provides insights that could help control other viral diseases in fungi