Tipping the balance: Promoting beneficial fungi to keep a forest pathogen in check

Armillaria solidipes, a naturally occurring fungus, is responsible for one of the most widespread root diseases in western North American forests. Armillaria root disease affects a broad range of tree species, and by the time visible symptoms appear, significant damage has often already occurred. Advances in a field of DNA sequencing known as metagenomics are now helping researchers develop strategies to manage this disease using information that has been beneath their feet all along. Music courtesy of Souvenir Thread.  Read the Science You Can Use and access the related content on Treesearch.