8 votes

How we discovered a hidden world of fungi inside the world’s biggest seed bank

4 comments

  1. monarda
    Link

    A fungal perspective puts a whole new spin on the idea of seed banking. It may not have been the primary goal, but in the process of preserving plant diversity, seed banks are also preserving the fungal diversity inside seeds. Of course, scientists working in seed banking have been aware of fungi before now, but the context has been decidedly negative. The banking standards from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations always refer to fungi as a contamination, a problem to be removed, and actually recommend use of fungicides to kill any fungi present.

    This approach is rooted in reason, as many fungi can and will cause disease in plants, and a seed bank needs to avoid becoming a vector for plant diseases. But we’re increasingly realising that the microorganisms in and around us influence the world far more than previously understood. As humans, altering the balance of microorganisms in our gut can have all sorts of negative health consequences and has even been connected to neurological disease. We know less about the microbiome of plants, but this will need to change if we are to successfully protect all the species at risk of extinction.

    The idea that the Millennium Seed Bank must surely be full of these potentially helpful microfungi we call endophytes inside its seeds would not be a stretch to anybody who studies fungi or microbiology, and yet no one had ever looked before.

    5 votes
  2. [3]
    Echinops
    Link
    There are quite a few plants that won't germinate at all without a mychrhizal fungal partnership. Such as orchids and many heaths. Most plants have mutual relationships with fungi. Not to mention...

    There are quite a few plants that won't germinate at all without a mychrhizal fungal partnership. Such as orchids and many heaths. Most plants have mutual relationships with fungi.

    Not to mention the plants that are full mycoheterotrophs, or fungal parasites. They don't even photosynthesize.

    4 votes
    1. [2]
      ImmobileVoyager
      Link Parent
      Fascinating !
      1 vote
      1. monarda
        Link Parent
        That was a great article. I don't know if you you're aware, but fungi can also act as predators. Here they are predating on nematodes. I've seen better videos, but this one is the best I could...

        That was a great article.
        I don't know if you you're aware, but fungi can also act as predators. Here they are predating on nematodes. I've seen better videos, but this one is the best I could find in a quick google search.