Ancient Fossil Unveils World's Oldest Disease-Causing Fungus
Researchers have discovered a 407-million-year-old fossilized fungus, named Potteromyces asteroxylicola, which is the oldest evidence of a disease-causing fungus ever found. The ancient microbe sheds light on the early history of disease and the crucial role fungi played in shaping life on Earth. The discovery was made in fossil samples from the Rhynie Chert in Scotland, a site known for its remarkably preserved Early Devonian community. This finding provides insight into the evolution of different fungus groups and pays tribute to the work of mycologist Beatrix Potter.