Mushroom power

Autumn is in full swing, but what do you know about our good fall-friend?

They have been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years. And now they are found to break down pollution!

I’m talking about the mushroom and its magic.

More accurately speaking, mushrooms are fungi, they are classed into their own kingdom: the fungi kingdom, of course.

👉So what are they?

-The easy definition is that fungi don’t photosynthesise, which is why they are not plants
-They can be single or multi-celled
-There are millions of fungi species in every ecosystem
-They absorb food from the environment around them – think wood, soil, animal matter and cheese!

🍄What about the iconic mushrooms?
-They are the fruitbodies of certain fungi

👉Fungi at work

-They can absorb organic matter that is hard to digest for other organisms and turn this into forms that other organisms can use
-Their root-like strands (hyphae) hold soil together and allow for water to pass through. The water is then more easily absorbed by the soil & helps with general liquid retention in soil
-The hyphae can actually protect their host plants from parasites

👉Underground hub

-Different hyphae meet underground to produce tiny cells known as spores
-These spores are really light and are mainly spread by the wind
-Some scientists believe that trees communicate to each other via underground fungal networks that connect to the tree roots, so they can transfer resources from one tree to another who needs it!

🪄Mushroom magic against climate change!

-Certain fungi digest hydrocarbons in petrol
-Some can digest mercury
-Some can even digest a form of plastic! 
Scientists are looking into where the plastics are found to identify which fungus can be useful. Then they look at the enzymes produced by the fungus and go from there…

While you are here, have a look at my services to see how I can help you on your eco journey!

(Sources: ScienceDirect, UCPM, Science Learning Hub, World Economic Forum, Kew, Royal Botanic Gardens, Scientific American)