There are four times as many fungal species as plant species..
Without them there would be no forests.
Mushrooms and fungi are vital to the forest ecosystem. The forest cannot live without mushrooms. They not only degrade organic matter (how they make mushrooms and poplar mushrooms) or eliminate the weak specimens, leaving more light to the rest, but its role is essential in the feeding strategy of the trees.
Fungi such as boletus and chanterelles establish an important symbiosis with the roots. Thanks to them, trees absorb phosphorus better in return, get sugars from photosynthesis. Besides, if the roots are colonized by these fungi, the entry of pathogens becomes very difficult.
A clear example is the fungi of the genus Morchella(morels or shit) that usually live associated with riverside trees such as elms, poplars, ash trees, etc. However, when a situation of considerable stress occurs for their host plant they become independent quickly, giving rise to mushrooms.
A study on Sierra Nevada confirms that almost all plant genera (except cruciferous and legumes) are associated with fungi of the genus Glomus, Acaulospora, Scutellospora,etc. that help them withstand the enormous thermal differences and the drought.
Fungi play a fundamental role in nature. It is estimated that the 80% of plants are associated with fungi, Without the fungi, the plants would not survive drought or lack of nutrients in the soil., or they would be more sensitive to attack by bacteria or insects.
In Spain there are some 10.000 registered species, being Andalusia one of the richest regions in fungal species, nails on 3.830 described species.
Genatur organizes mycological conferences on 14 y 21 November in the Montes Propios of Jerez (Los Alcornocales NP).
