Ecologist Justine Karst is a co-author of a new perspective paper contesting claims that underground fungal networks allow trees to “talk” to each other and share resources with seedlings. Credit: Supplied
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The concept is so intriguing, it’s taken root in popular media—even being raised in the popular Apple TV show Ted Lasso—and been dubbed the “wood-wide web,” but the science behind those ideas is unproven, cautions University of Alberta expert Justine Karst.
In an article published in Nature Ecology & Evolution that also shares their personal points of view, Karst and two colleagues contest three popular claims about the capabilities of underground fungi known as common mycorrhizal networks, or CMNs, that connect roots of multiple plants underground. Fungi are living organisms such as molds, yeast and mushrooms.
“It’s great that CMN research has sparked interest in forest fungi, but it’s important for the public to understand that many popular ideas are ahead of the science,” says Karst, associate professor in the U of A’s Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences.
While CMNs have been scientifically proven to exist, there is no strong evidence that they offer benefits to trees and their seedlings, the researchers suggest.
To evaluate the popular claims, Karst and co-authors Melanie Jones of the University of British Columbia Okanagan and Jason Hoeksema of the University of Mississippi reviewed evidence from existing field studies.
2023-02-14 18:00:04
Original from phys.org
Sometimes the most incredible phenomenon in nature can be the most mysterious. In recent years, a relatively new phenomenon has aroused curiosity in scientists, the capacity of forest trees to communicate through underground fungi.
The notion of these trees being able to converse through below ground methods has been gaining much attention as of late, and many studies have emerged on the topic.
It is believed that trees are able to communicate and share information with one another through an underground network of fungal threads, referred to as “mycorrhizal networks”. These threads spread from the roots of one tree to another, creating a network of information. The fungi are able to produce a variety of hormones and mRNA molecules which are transferred along the filaments.
Such communication is quickly becoming the focus for much research, with an aim to discover more about the specifics in Trees’ interactions. One of the primary aims is to identify what these hormones are, and what information is exchanged through this network.
Researchers believe that the roots of trees send signals to others, acting as guardians for their neighbours, transferring resources that those neighbours may be lacking. It is also speculated that fungi systems act as a way for trees to relay warnings of danger, or the presence of harmful pathogens, to all the other members of the network.
This is an incredible ability, and one which could be explored further in order to gain a greater understanding of tree species’ interactions.
Overall, it is evident that forest trees do indeed communicate with each other, however more research is needed to uncover the extent of this communication. In the future, this type of research could be used to better understand tree relationships, allowing us to gain further insight into how different species regulate the environment.