Fungal Evolution: Bonnet Mushrooms and Mycena Invade Living Hosts
Bonnet mushrooms, also known as Mycena, have been found to invade living plants, challenging the belief that they solely feed on dead organic matter. Danish mycologists discovered through DNA studies that Mycena fungi are consistently found in the roots of living plant hosts, suggesting an evolutionary development from decomposers to invaders of living plants. The fungi have evolved to utilize both living and dead matter, making them "opportunists." There may even be a mutualistic relationship between Mycena and living plants, as some species appear to exchange nitrogen with carbon from plants. This change in Mycena may be partly due to human activity, particularly in plantations with young, healthy plants. However, there is no reason to fear Mycena invading the human body, as they are unlikely to adapt to survive in humans due to our effective immune system.
