An experimental approach to study foraging memory in ectomycorrhizal mycelium

Parise, A. G., De Oliveira, V. H. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6066-5827, Tamagnini, F. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8741-5094, Tibbett, M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0143-2190 and Pickles, B. J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9809-6455 (2025) An experimental approach to study foraging memory in ectomycorrhizal mycelium. Communicative & Integrative Biology, 18 (1). 2580130. ISSN 1942-0889 doi: 10.1080/19420889.2025.2580130

Abstract/Summary

Behavioral ecology of fungi is an emerging field investigating how fungi respond to environmental stimuli through morphological and physiological changes. Progress requires methodologies suited to fungal biology. Here, we developed an experimental approach to test for memory in the ectomycorrhizal fungus Laccaria bicolor. We hypothesized that mycelium exposed to pea cotyledons would retain directional information about the nutrient source. To test this, a portion of the mycelium was transferred to fresh medium, where memory would be assessed by asymmetrical growth toward the former nutrient position. The hypothesis was not supported, but the methods offer a framework for exploring fungal behavior in both ectomycorrhizal and saprotrophic species. Although no evidence of memory was found, this study highlights the value of publishing both positive and negative results and provides tools to advance research on fungal cognition and behavior.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://centaur.reading.ac.uk/id/eprint/127006
Identification Number/DOI	10.1080/19420889.2025.2580130
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	Interdisciplinary centres and themes > Soil Research Centre Life Sciences > School of Biological Sciences > Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Life Sciences > School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy > School of Pharmacy > Division of Pharmacology
Publisher	Landes Bioscience Journals
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