Blueberry and heather root fungi finally get their own global research spotlight
Vohník M, Delavaux CS
Mycorrhizal Networks
The blueberries, rhododendrons, and azaleas in your acidic garden bed depend on root fungi that scientists have studied far less than those of most other plants, so new research could change how you plant and feed them.
Some plants, including blueberries, heather, and rhododendrons, team up with special fungi living in their roots. Those fungi help the plants survive in poor, acidic soils. Scientists have studied them far less than other plant-fungus partnerships, and a 2026 conference gave them a dedicated session for the first time to start coordinating research worldwide.
Key Findings
The 13th International Conference on Mycorrhiza (12-17 July 2026, Cairns, Australia) held its first symposium dedicated exclusively to ericoid mycorrhiza.
The symposium brought together speakers from six countries to discuss diversity, biogeography, ecology, and biochemistry of ericoid mycorrhizal fungi, with the aim of building a global research network.
Ericoid mycorrhiza is described as arguably the least understood of the four principal mycorrhizal types, and related work on fire recovery was presented in a separate symposium.
chevron_right Technical Summary
A major international mycorrhiza conference held its first symposium devoted to ericoid mycorrhiza, the root partnership behind blueberries, heather, and rhododendrons. The meeting aims to build a global research network for one of the least understood plant-fungus relationships.
Abstract Preview
Original paper
One small step for mycorrhiza, one giant leap for ericoid mycorrhizal research.
The recently concluded 13th International Conference on Mycorrhiza (ICOM 2026; 12-17 July 2026, Cairns, Australia) was the first conference in the series to include a symposium dedicated exclusivel...
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