Latest news with #GoldenOysterMushrooms
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists raise red flags over hidden risks of popular garden plant: 'Should serve as a bright yellow warning'
Golden oyster mushrooms, with their bright yellow caps and nutty flavor, have exploded in popularity among home gardeners for being easy to grow and packed with health benefits. But new research has suggested that this trend could be fueling an environmental threat, according to The Conversation. Scientists warn that the species is spreading into the wild and disrupting native ecosystems — a development that "should serve as a bright yellow warning" that non-native fungi should be grown with great care, if at all. What's happening? The recent study found that golden oyster mushrooms, originally native to Asia, have become invasive in North American forests. By collecting and analyzing fungal DNA from trees around Madison, Wisconsin, the researchers discovered that trees colonized by golden oysters housed only half as many fungal species as unaffected trees — sometimes even less. According to the research, which was originally published in Cell's Current Biology journal, some native fungi, such as the mossy maze polypore, elm oyster, and the chemically rich Nemania serpens, were completely pushed out. The sharp decline in fungal diversity is a strong indicator that golden oysters are outcompeting native fungi for critical resources, altering the delicate balance of forest life. Why are invasive mushrooms concerning? Fungi play an essential role in keeping ecosystems healthy for humans and other organisms. They break down dead organic material, recycle nutrients, form symbiotic relationships with plants, and help sequester carbon in the soil. When an invasive species like the golden oyster mushroom takes hold, it can decimate native fungal communities that have evolved over centuries to support local forests, as The Conversation explained. As the native fungi are pushed out, forests may become more vulnerable to disease, biodiversity loss, and nutrient imbalances. This is an even more concerning problem in regions already stressed by climate change and habitat destruction. This disruption doesn't just affect trees and soil. Protecting native fungi and other species helps safeguard natural resources, food webs, and even the resilience of forest ecosystems against emerging threats. Would you live in a house made of fungus? Heck yes No way Maybe Only if you paid me Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. What's being done about invasive mushrooms? In The Conversation, study author Aishwarya Veerabahu recommended that mushroom growers and hobbyists avoid using golden oyster mushroom grow kits. Cultivating them indoors only and disposing of all substrate material responsibly was one suggested alternative to completely avoiding them. Commercial sellers can also include labeling to inform buyers about the species' invasive potential. Those eager to grow mushrooms at home can try cultivating native fungi from their local area. Choosing native species supports biodiversity and helps maintain the unique ecological networks your region depends on. Long-term solutions may include developing sporeless strains of golden oyster mushrooms or using biological controls, such as targeted mycoviruses. In the meantime, public awareness and responsible cultivation are vital to preventing further spread. As golden oysters continue spreading in North America and begin showing up in forests in Europe, Africa, and beyond, Veerabahu expressed hope that the research encourages more thoughtful approaches to growing and managing mushrooms. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
11-08-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
A DIY mushroom trend has become a major invasive threat in Canada & the U.S.
Golden oyster mushrooms have escaped cultivation and are now growing in at least 25 states in the U.S. The invasive species has also been spotted growing in the wild in Ontario. Golden oyster mushrooms, known for their yellow caps and nutty flavor, became popular in the early 2000s following the introduction of growing kits that allowed people to grow them at home. It's a trend that continues to this day. A quick search on TikTok suggests the kits continue to be sold and used in parts of Canada and the U.S. The mushrooms were first reported in U.S. forests around 2010. Earlier this month, the Government of Michigan posted a press release stating the fungi is 'invading' the state's forests, and their presence is displacing native fungal species and decreasing biodiversity. 'Trees where golden oyster mushrooms were detected hosted about half as much diversity of fungal species as trees where the golden oyster mushroom was not detected,' reads a statement by researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, who published a study on invasive golden oyster mushrooms in the U.S. last month. 'Loss of native fungal diversity could have implications for the rate of decomposition and carbon storage capacity in forests. It could also deplete fungal species with rich potential for pharmaceutical development.' Experts aren't sure how the mushrooms escaped home gardens, but they have spread quickly since then. Golden oyster mushrooms prefer warm, humid environments, so researchers ran climate models to predict how the species would fare in North America as temperatures warm. Those models predicted that the species' range will continue to expand in North America, allowing it to disrupt more ecosystems. The team is now looking at what makes this species a successful invader in North America, in hopes of finding ways to eliminate it from the wild. 'Since fungi provide ecosystem services in unique niches, loss of native species could dramatically alter how an ecosystem functions,' the study's authors write. The golden oyster mushroom range is increasing in North America. (Invasive golden oyster mushrooms are disrupting native fungal communities as they spread throughout North America Veerabahu, Aishwarya et al. Current Biology, Volume 0, Issue 0) Big benefits to cultivating native species Native plants — i.e., foliage that naturally occurs in a region — are an important part of the ecosystem, and there are big benefits to planting them over non-native species, like the golden oyster mushroom. Native plants and fungi support wildlife. Planting native varieties provides shelter and food for home-grown insects, birds, and other animals that benefit the ecosystem. Native varieties save water. Native plants tend to be better at retaining moisture than non-native varieties. It's an evolutionary advantage that can translate into big savings for you, in terms of money, resources, and effort. Natives are more weather-resistant. Canadians are weather-hardy, and so are our plants. Native greenery is more likely to survive Canada's harsh winters, rollercoaster springs, and summer dry spells, increasing the chances they'll bloom in your garden year after year. Native species tend to require fewer pesticides. Once established in your garden, native plants are relatively easy to maintain. It's that home advantage once again: over time, native species have developed natural defenses against local diseases and 'pest' insects that can damage or kill exotic plants. If you'd like to decrease usage of harsh chemicals and encourage natural predator insects to do the work instead, native plants will help. Header image: Golden oyster mushrooms found growing in the wild in Michigan Government of Michigan Solve the daily Crossword
