All articles tagged with #mycology
A new study estimates Earth's arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal networks total 110 quadrillion kilometers in length, moving 4 billion tonnes of carbon annually. This underground infrastructure, which supports 70% of plant species, is heavily concentrated in grasslands and faces significant threats from agricultural practices.
University of Utah researchers sequenced Lanmaoa asiatica and confirmed it can produce vivid "tiny people" hallucinatory experiences across cultures, yet the mushroom lacks the typical psychedelic compounds such as psilocybin or ibotenic acid, leaving the exact biochemical mechanism unknown; the study also identified multiple Lanmaoa species and is building an evolutionary map for how this trait arose.
Scientists describe Psilocybe ochraceocentrata from Africa as the closest wild relative of Psilocybe cubensis, pushing their common ancestor back about 1.5 million years and challenging the idea that the magic mushroom spread globally after cattle movement; the study also clarifies mislabeled cultivation strains, highlights Africa’s under-sampled fungal diversity, and suggests dung-based ecology and grassland migrations shaped their history, while noting that the birthplace remains unresolved pending more specimens.
Researchers identify Psilocybe ochraceocentrata in southern Africa as a distinct species from the cultivated P. cubensis, dating their last common ancestor to about 1.5 million years ago and challenging the idea that cubensis spread to the Americas with 16th‑century cattle. Using multi-locus phylogenetics, molecular clocks, and ecological niche modeling, the team shows the two mushrooms diverged long ago, and that popular NSS/Transkei strains belong to the new species. The work highlights Africa’s under-sampling of fungal diversity and reshapes the origin story of magic mushrooms.
The National Mycological Reference Centre in Adelaide is at the forefront of identifying and studying fungal pathogens, which are becoming more prevalent due to climate change. Dr. Sarah Kidd, the head of the center, highlights the threat of deadly fungal infections and the lack of effective antifungal drugs. The World Health Organization has identified several critical fungal pathogens, emphasizing the need for more research and treatments. While the likelihood of a fungal pandemic is relatively low, experts warn that fungi may evolve to resist higher temperatures, posing a potential threat to human health.
The Natural History Museum of London has unveiled the world's oldest disease-causing fungus, named Potteromyces asteroxylicola, which is 407 million years old. The fungus was discovered in fossil samples from the Rhynie Chert in Scotland, a site known for its well-preserved Early Devonian communities. This finding sheds light on Beatrix Potter's pioneering drawings and fungal growth studies, positioning her as a significant figure in mycology. The discovery also provides insights into the evolution of different fungus groups and disease-causing fungi affecting plants.
The oldest disease-causing fungus, Potteromyces asteroxylicola, has been discovered in fossil samples from the Rhynie Chert in Scotland, dating back 407 million years. Named after Beatrix Potter, the fungus provides insight into the historical precedent of disease-causing fungi and their impact on plants. The discovery was made by mycologists at the Natural History Museum and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and sheds light on the evolution of different fungal groups. The finding highlights the importance of museum collections and new technologies in uncovering secrets from ancient fossils.
Mycologists argue that the field’s naming rules don’t account for fungi discovered with DNA sequencing instead of being observed visually or grown in the lab, leading to thousands of recently discovered types of fungi being unrecognized. The researchers propose a way forward with a list of possible criteria for recognizing these "dark fungi" and call for updates to the International Code of Nomenclature.