Trees and Fungi: Forever Together

Often invisible, hidden in the earth beneath the undergrowth, the vast mycelium network reveals itself only once a year: in the fall.

Fungi are essential for tree growth and play a critical role in keeping forests healthy.  It is said that over three million species of fungus exist. The people at INRAE have been exploring this scientific kingdom for a long time.

Symbiotic fungi play a vital role in the ecosystem—they stimulate growth in plants by enhancing their nutrition and protecting them from all kinds of attack.

Since they break down plant debris and wood, fungi ensure that organic matter is recycled and soil remains fertile.

Fungi allow some plants to grow in extreme environments: soil that's polluted by heavy metals, highly damaged or contaminated. A symbiotic relationship with mycorrhizal fungi is what helps protect these plants !

Whether they're white Alba or black Perigord, truffles are highly sought-after fungi (a sort of underground mushroom), with an incomparable aroma and a distinctive flavor.

Our scientists take good care of them … decoding their genomes to get a better understanding of how they form and their scent, exploring the win-win relationship they maintain with trees—most often with oak trees or hazel—in order to benefit from it.