When you read fungi, what is the first thing you think of? Probably a mushroom, a white closed cup, or the classic fairytale red-and-white spotted ones. But, no, that is not what fungi are. Well, not entirely. A fungus is any eukaryotic organism that is heterotrophic, meaning it cannot make its own food and instead absorbs nutrients from other sources, with a chitin cell wall. In other words, all mushrooms are fungi, but not all fungi are mushrooms.
‘Fungi’ is a term to describe a kingdom of organisms within the natural world that are not animals or plants — no, mushrooms are not a plant or a vegetable. So, what is their significance, and how can these seemingly inconspicuous microorganisms change our world in the future, from medicine to fashion to combating environmental issues?
Medicine, nutrition, and wellbeing
As previously established, mushrooms are not vegetables, so why are they such a staple in culinary practice? Mushrooms contain many key micronutrients that are vital for us to have in our diets, such as carbohydrates, lipids, lectins, vitamin B, C, and D, and minerals including potassium, phosphorus, and calcium. What’s more, they are also a good source of protein, making mushrooms a good substitute for meat.
However, this is not their only selling point. Six per cent of edible mushrooms possess medicinal properties, some of their therapeutic effects being immunomodulatory, meaning they can alter or balance the immune system’s response, anticarcinogenic (helping to prevent cancer), antiviral, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory.
Take the shiitake mushroom, for example. Native to East Asia and historically cultivated for use in traditional medicine and food, it ranks fourth among foods containing the highest amount of natural copper, falling behind liver, oysters, and spirulina. Copper is an essential trace mineral involved in red blood cell formation, energy regulation, and the maintenance of healthy skin and bones. Shiitake is also rich in selenium (promoting thyroid health, fertility, and hair and nail growth) and contains eritadenine, which is a compound known to reduce cholesterol levels in the blood. So, while shiitake does have a lovely umami flavour enhancing the taste of your stir-fry, this mushroom is one prime example of the unsuspecting power that these macrofungi possess.
Fashion
Mycelium, the underground root-like structure of fungi, consists of a network of hyphae — fine, white, thread-like filaments. In recent years, scientists have been investigating the potential uses and applications of this ‘fabric’. When you look at a root network, your first thought might not be: ‘Hm, I can use this to make an alternative to leather, bacon, packaging, building materials, and furniture’ — but for the founders of the successful companies Bolt Threads and Ecovative, it was.
These two companies are pioneers in the industry of mycelium-based material synthesis, with Bolt having created a faux-leather alternative, Mylo, that has been endorsed by household names such as Adidas, Lululemon, Kering, and Stella McCartney. Who knows, your next handbag, wallet, or pair of trainers may be made from mycelium.
Plastics and the environment
There is no secret that a large social discourse nowadays is the environment: both what we are doing to damage it, and what we are doing to help it. While there seems to be a lot to say about the former, fungi research is a promising endeavour many scientists are embarking upon, which may bolster your conversation points in support of the latter.
Plastic is infamously polluting, as it has no natural decomposing enzymes — only nine per cent of all plastic produced globally has been recycled, with the rest either being burned, polluting the environment, or buried in landfill. However, in 2017, scientists in China and Pakistan identified a strain of fungi, Aspergillus tubingensis, in a landfill site that was decomposing plastic. This fungus was found to be capable of breaking down polyurethane plastics in a matter of weeks, rather than the typical 20–30 years. The use of fungi in bioremediation, using microorganisms to remove or neutralise pollutants from a contaminated site, is also being investigated, as some species of fungi have been found to process heavy metals and radioactive material.
The narrative that plastic is unbiodegradable may be changing, one saprobiont at a time — a saprobiont being an organism that feeds on dead or decaying organic matter, helping it decompose.
The idea of reforestation is made possible by fungi, as a forest’s ability to regrow is strongly dependent on the fungal ecosystem present in the soil. Being planted in a soil microbiome with healthy fungi can stimulate the growth of trees and other plants by 64 per cent. However, due to pathogenic and toxic fertilisers used in farming, Europe has seen significant declines in fungal populations.
It is clear that fungi are the key to unlocking our futures, and the futures of those who come after us. Fungi play a critical part in soil biodiversity, laying quite literally the foundation of all plant life. They can revolutionise the way we eat, the way we dress, and the way we look after ourselves and our planet. Exciting times lie ahead of us as we begin to unearth the mysteries of this unexplored ‘dark taxa’ kingdom, and finally cease to underestimate the power of a spore or mushroom (no matter how gross they may look).
Photo by Jesse Bauer on Unsplash