Good fungus may one day help save plants from bad fungus like deadly myrtle rust disease
What do coffee, sugar, wheat, soy, eucalypts and paperbarks all have in common?
Plants & Animals
Feb 23, 2026
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Page 3: Research news on fungi
Fungi are a major eukaryotic lineage studied across biological topics for their distinct cellular organization, ecological roles, and interactions with other organisms. They possess chitinous cell walls, typically form filamentous hyphae organized into mycelia, and reproduce via diverse sexual and asexual spores. Fungi function as principal decomposers of organic matter, key symbionts in mycorrhizal and lichen associations, and potent pathogens of plants, animals, and humans. Their metabolic versatility underpins numerous biotechnological and research applications, including model systems for genetics and cell biology, production of enzymes and secondary metabolites, and regulation of nutrient cycling in ecosystems.
Fungus with species-jumping genes threatens coffee crops. 'Resurrecting' fungal genomes may help understand it
For anyone who relies on coffee to start their day, coffee wilt disease may be the most important disease you've never heard of. This fungal disease has repeatedly reshaped the global coffee supply over the past century, ...
Molecular & Computational biology
Feb 18, 2026
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To aficionados, fungi are freaky, mystical and overlooked. They're helping scientists learn more
Jessica Allen crunched through fallen leaves among Manzanita trees hunting for something few have spotted before: the Manzanita butter clump—a rare and little-known yellow mushroom found, so far, only along North America's ...
Ecology
Feb 17, 2026
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How one genome creates two distinct fungal bodies
Creatures that can change from one form to another are a staple of science fiction: Think werewolves and Transformers. Nature, too, has its shapeshifters, such as dimorphic fungi. While scientists have known for some time ...
Recycling strategies of fungi can affect how forests store carbon
Some fungi are wasteful, while others recycle—and this can determine how much carbon is stored in a forest. Researchers at Lund University have now revealed how fungi manage their mycelium, the network that builds the structure ...
Ecology
Feb 13, 2026
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White-nose syndrome puzzle solved: Biological mechanisms behind devastating bat disease revealed
Millions of bats in North America have died from white-nose syndrome, and a new study from the University of Waterloo explores why and how the fungal disease has devastated bat populations on this continent, while it has ...
Plants & Animals
Feb 12, 2026
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What to watch as fungal infections rise: Species that can quickly 'translate' fat-use proteins
A new study by researchers at Kiel University and MPI-EvolBio describes how more efficient protein production drives the adaptation of fungi to the human body, potentially turning previously harmless species into emerging ...
Evolution
Feb 7, 2026
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When the interaction between fungi and bacteria becomes a dangerous alliance
Rivals or allies—how do bacteria and fungi interact in our bodies? Until now, bacteria on our mucous membranes were primarily considered to be antagonists of fungi, as they can inhibit their growth. However, an international ...
Ecology
Feb 6, 2026
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We ate space mushrooms and survived to tell the tale
The mushrooms spread out on the chopping board seemed normal enough. They were rich and dense, and had a strong earthy aroma. In the saucepan, they melted—along with the cheese—to form a creamy pasta sauce.
Space Exploration
Feb 3, 2026
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What potoroo poo tells us about climate change
If you've ever been for a walk in the forest or poked around your local park, you're probably familiar with seeing mushrooms popping up as the weather turns cooler. But you're not the only one.
Plants & Animals
Feb 3, 2026
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