MADISON, Wis. - The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is asking the public to check needle-bearing trees for signs of a harmful disease and report their findings to the department.

Filaments of fungi intertwine with the tips of tree roots to form underground networks that seem to benefit both organisms: the filaments, called hyphae, break down minerals in the soil that trees can ...

Trees rely on a network of fungal friends for good health. Mycorrhizal (from the Greek “myco” fungus, and “rhizae” root) fungi occur naturally, and help trees in many ways. The fungi help the trees ...

A root fungus that helps eucalyptus trees get nutrients and water has a surprising way of maintaining this symbiotic relation. It releases tiny bits of RNA that manipulate gene activity in the tree ...

Fungi that live on trees perform an important function in the forest ecosystem by breaking down dead wood. This is no easy feat, because wood is very resilient. It is held together by a biopolymer ...

A very common sight this year in our landscapes, judging by the phone calls we have gotten, is the presence of clumps of honey-colored mushrooms. These mushrooms are the spore-producing structures of ...

Support local journalism: Find offers for new subscribers here: Special Offers — USATodayNetwork. Many residents who grow palms are familiar with the signs of Ganoderma butt rot, Ganoderma zonatum, ...

Vast networks of microscopic, underground fungi serve a crucial role in Earth’s ecosystems — and there’s a lot we don’t know about them. More than a quarter of Earth’s species live in soils ...