These Popular Mushroom Kits Might Be Causing Environmental Harm
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Bright yellow golden oyster mushrooms, prized for their nutty flavor and easy cultivation, have surged in popularity thanks to at-home growing kits.
But new research warns that these kits may be unleashing an invasive species into North American forests.
A study conducted by researchers in Wisconsin found that trees colonized by golden oyster mushrooms hosted about half as many native fungal species as those without them.
DNA analysis from elm tree samples showed that the presence of this invasive fungus, Pleurotus citrinopileatus, reduced both the diversity and composition of native fungi.
Stock image of mushrooms.
Stock image of mushrooms.
Photo by chengyuzheng / Getty Images
Aishwarya Veerabahu, a co-author of the study and Ph.D. candidate at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, wrote in The Conversation that the invasive species had displaced fungi such as the mossy maze polypore and the elm oyster.
According to Veerabahu, when native species are pushed out, researchers lose the opportunity to study their potential benefits.
"I think [mushroom growers] very likely could introduce other types of invasive mushrooms," Veerabahu told Newsweek in an email.
"I have my eye on the other non-native species of oyster mushrooms, but in truth it can be any."
'A simple but vital joy'
Fungi serve as natural recyclers, breaking down dead wood and plant material and converting it into nutrients that enrich the soil.
They also support climate regulation by storing carbon and helping other plants absorb water and nutrients.
Disruption to these fungal communities could weaken forest ecosystems already strained by habitat loss and climate change.
Veerabahu added that "the invasion of golden oysters risks erasing a simple, but vital, joy of seeing different, colorful, incredible fungi in the forest".
"Every winter after the snow melts, fungi growing on dead wood are often the first ones to pop up, and I so love to see them again," she told Newsweek. "Golden oysters might make that experience non-existent.
"Fungal biodiversity deserves to exist, period. Moving non-native fungi around the world puts fungal biodiversity at risk, along with everything they have to offer us: vital ecosystem processes, therapeutic medicines, and a deeper understanding of the natural world."
What To Know
The golden oyster mushroom, native to eastern Asia, was introduced to North America in the early 2000s and gained popularity through home-growing kits and cultivation on outdoor logs.
While most cultivated mushrooms remain harmless, golden oysters have spread rapidly since escaping cultivation and are now reported in 25 U.S. states and parts of Canada.
"As far as we know, this is the first cultivated species that has escaped," Veerabahu told Newsweek.
"So even if a few people had an inkling, most people didn't know this could happen, and it's certainly not anyone's fault."
What People Are Saying
Veerabahu urged caution in The Conversation: "I recommend that people consider refraining from using golden oyster mushroom grow kits to prevent any new introductions.
"For people who make a living selling these mushrooms, consider adding a note that this species is invasive and should be cultivated indoors and not composted."
What's Next
Veerabahu told Newsweek she plans to continue studying golden oyster mushrooms.
Specifically, Veerabahu plans to examine whether the mushrooms have evolved to be genetically distinct from native populations.
She also plans to examine the perspectives and priorities of stakeholders in golden oyster mushrooms and how they can be managed going forward.
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