"Fungal Warriors: Underground Allies Combat Global Warming"
A global team of researchers has discovered that mycorrhizal fungi, which live underground in symbiotic relationships with plants, play a crucial role in capturing and storing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The researchers estimate that around 36% of the carbon released annually from burning fossil fuels is captured by these fungi. By sending sugars and fats down to the fungi, plants receive water and essential nutrients in return. The study also found that plants associated with mycorrhizal fungi can take in eight times more carbon than those without. However, the use of fertilizers disrupts this relationship, limiting the growth of the fungal matrix and leading to soil erosion and increased carbon emissions. Understanding the role of mycorrhizal fungi can inform land use planning and conservation efforts to mitigate climate change.
