Article title : Trees and mushrooms, an alliance under our feet
Link to the article : https://www.inrae.fr/actualites/arbres-champignons-alliance-nos-pieds
Author : Francis Martin, research director INRAE
Publication : 11/24/2023 for INRAE
Summary :
A secret collaboration has been playing out beneath our feet for more than 180 million years: the symbiosis between trees and fungi, known as “ectomycorrhiza”. This intimate relationship between young tree seedlings, particularly pine, and symbiotic fungi like Cenococcum geophilum is revealed through the confocal microscope.
Three distinct elements characterize this crucial alliance: a coat of fungal mycelium enveloping the roots, a network of mycelium penetrating inside the roots to facilitate nutrient exchange, and projections of the mycelium into the soil to absorb mineral elements. Beyond its intriguing visual appearance, this collaboration plays a vital role in the health and growth of trees, even offering encouraging prospects for strengthening tree resilience in the face of environmental challenges.
The symbiosis, however, is not immune to environmental disturbance, warning against silvicultural management practices that may threaten fungal diversity. From the perspective of anticipating climate change, the possibility of planting trees “fortified” with selected fungi is being considered, thus strengthening their capacity to cope with stressful environmental conditions.
Additionally, only 5% of the five million fungal species on our planet are currently identified. It is essential to preserve this millions of years old alliance, particularly relevant in the run-up to COP28.