- Vaccinating Trees to Grow Rare Fungi
Rare and partly severely threatened mushroom species are to be resettled in the Bavarian Forest National Park. This is currently being done by inoculating trees with these mushrooms, as reported by the University of Bayreuth and the National Park.
The process works as follows: The mushrooms, bred in the lab, are placed into pre-drilled holes in the host trees using wooden dowels. A total of 400 firs, beeches, and pines are to be inoculated. The German Federal Environmental Foundation (DBU) is financially supporting the project and considers it a pioneering effort. According to DBU Secretary General Alexander Bonde, this is the first time targeted conservation measures for rare mushrooms are being tested in practice. Despite the crucial role of mushrooms in forest ecosystems, there is almost no experience in this area.
Rose scent and delicate fruit bodies
"I am certain that we will discover the first fruit bodies within the next two years," said mycologist Peter Karasch from the Bavarian Forest National Park. He emphasized the importance of the project for species conservation, comparing it to the reintroduction of bearded vultures in the Berchtesgaden National Park.
Among the mushrooms to be resettled in the national park is the fragrant false morel, whose fruit bodies have a rose-like scent. The bearded tooth fungus has particularly delicate fruit bodies. The inoculated trees will be regularly monitored in the coming years to observe how quickly the mushroom species spread and what conditions prevail.
The fragrant false morel, a rare mushroom species, is one of those being resettled in Germany, specifically in the Bavarian Forest National Park. The work of resettling these mushrooms is being supported financially by the German Federal Environmental Foundation (DBU).
