Czech scientists discover new fungi living in salty soil and seagrass roots

Researchers from the Institute of Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences have identified and described two new genera of microscopic fungi adapted to high-salinity environments. One was found in tropical seagrass near Mauritius, the other in salty soils of the Soos National Nature Reserve in western Bohemia. Both belong to the order Lulworthiales, previously thought to occur mainly in marine habitats. Genetic analyses revealed that salinity, rather than land–sea boundaries, determines their presence. The discovery highlights the ecological adaptability of fungi and the biodiversity potential of extreme habitats.