Learn about how one of the most expensive foods in the world disperses, and find out what these dispersers share.
Read moreTruffle like fungi and their unlikely, analogous dispersers
Tuber melanosporum
The King: Boletus edulis and its bacterial symbiote
The King: Boletus edulis. By Richard Sullivan.
Boletus edulis is becoming rarer throughout Europe and overharvesting is not the culprit. The porcini's reduction is largely due to indirect human interactions. Intense, regular fires in Mediterranean ecosystems are not only changing belowground bacterial assemblages but also plant productivity. The alteration of both symbiotes in this tripartite relationship has decimated our beloved porcinis.
Read moreLeccinum species on the East Coast
A beautiful, young Leccinum mushroom fruiting in a stand of white pines.
These amazingly robust mycorrhizal mushrooms not only provide their host plants with nutrients root hairs have a hard time accessing, but water during periods of drought. By aiding trees during their most vulnerable sapling stage, species like these will allow forests to function during these modern times dominated by human disturbances.
Read moreOverlooked and underappreciated fungal symbiotes; Trichoderma species
Orange filaments in a.) and b.) represent Trichoderma sp. within plant roots. Blue filaments represent fungal pathogens. When invaded by Trichoderma sp. the plant responds by creating cell-wall deposits (black squiggles) which limits Trichoderma and pathogen growth. The first plant in panel c.) represents a healthy, disease resistant plant with Trichoderma sp. present while the second individual represents a disease ridden, less fit plant without the fungal mutualist. Harman et al. 2004.
Like mycorrhizae, Trichoderma sp. do more than just providing their host with nutrients. They offer numerous fitness enhancing services that must not be overlooked. In today’s post I will briefly describe the ecological services provided by Trichoderma sp. and how we are using this group of fungi to enhance our own fitness.
Read moreNeighboring plants exert strong and counterintuitive effects on ant–plant mutualisms
Ant-plant mutualisms are thoroughly researched, but it is widely unknown just how neighboring 'competitor' plants influence these interactions. A recent publication reveals results that are counterintuitive, showing not only an interesting relationship within these savanna ecosystems, but just how important science is.
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