Leho Tedersoo, Professor of Mycorrhizal Studies at the University of Tartu, is embarking on an ambitious scientific endeavor to reshape the foundations of biological classification through a comprehensive reworking of fungal taxonomy. With the prestigious Advanced Grant awarded by the European Research Council, Tedersoo’s team aims to illuminate the vast majority of microscopic fungi species—approximately 95%—that remain undescribed and unclassified, thereby bridging substantial gaps in the current understanding of the tree of life. This pioneering research promises not only to revolutionize fungal systematics but also to serve as a blueprint for a DNA-based classification system applicable across a broad spectrum of eukaryotic organisms.
Fungi, one of the most diverse kingdoms on Earth, currently include over 160,000 formally described species identifiable through morphological characteristics. However, it is estimated that the total number of fungal species ranges between two and three million, with many species existing solely as microscopic organisms beyond the reach of traditional taxonomy. These microscopic fungi predominantly inhabit soil ecosystems, playing indispensable roles in nutrient cycling, organic matter decomposition, and symbiotic support to plant life. Yet, the ecological balance they uphold is threatened by parasitic species, which negatively impact plants and animals, amplifying the need to better understand their diversity and evolution.
The classical methods of fungal classification, which rely heavily on morphological traits and cultivation, have proven inadequate for capturing the full spectrum of fungal biodiversity. Many microscopic fungi resist cultivation in laboratory settings, making conventional identification and description impossible. This limitation undermines the effective incorporation of these organisms into the evolutionary tree, as species lacking formal description remain unprotected and poorly managed, hindering both conservation efforts and pathology control. Tedersoo’s research confronts this challenge head-on by leveraging molecular and genomic tools to overcome these traditional barriers.
.adsslot_72IOLtAsQg{width:728px !important;height:90px !important;}
@media(max-width:1199px){ .adsslot_72IOLtAsQg{width:468px !important;height:60px !important;}
}
@media(max-width:767px){ .adsslot_72IOLtAsQg{width:320px !important;height:50px !important;}
}
ADVERTISEMENT
Operating within the Mycology and Microbiology Center at the University of Tartu, Tedersoo’s team has amassed an unparalleled collection of tens of thousands of soil and leaf samples from diverse global ecosystems over the past decade and a half. Expanding their scope recently, the group has also collected environmental DNA samples from water bodies and household dust, revealing phylogenetic lineages and species heretofore unknown to science. These findings underscore the vast extent of hidden fungal diversity and highlight the necessity of innovative taxonomic frameworks that can accommodate uncultivable organisms.
One of the pivotal challenges in this research lies in designing a taxonomic system capable of integrating traditional morphological data with expansive molecular insights. Tedersoo’s group is pioneering methodologies that can extract and analyze DNA from single fungal cells, a breakthrough that enables precise species identification even in scenarios where only trace amounts of genetic material are available. These methods have immediate applications in environmental monitoring and biodiversity assessment, where environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling provides an effective proxy to survey species presence without requiring direct observation or cultivation.
Collaboration with the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Germany has been instrumental in advancing the technical capabilities at Tedersoo’s home institution. By training researchers and introducing cutting-edge genomic tools, the partnership aims to establish a robust molecular biology infrastructure in Tartu, fostering long-term innovation and facilitating large-scale integrative studies. This collaborative effort enhances the project’s potential to transform fungal taxonomy and serve as a catalyst for similar initiatives across other biological kingdoms.
A cornerstone of this venture involves establishing guiding principles and standards for a DNA-based phylogenetic taxonomy, which would coalesce vast genomic datasets into a coherent classification framework. This approach aspires to circumvent the proliferation of parallel taxonomic systems, ensuring continuity and comparability with existing species descriptions. Ultimately, the goal is to provide a standardized, universally applicable methodology that integrates classical taxonomic knowledge with genome-based data, thereby creating a dynamic, accurate depiction of fungal evolutionary relationships.
Though the task is monumental and inherently time-consuming, Tedersoo is optimistic that within the next decade, his team will successfully classify extensive assemblages of microscopic fungi at higher taxonomic ranks such as phylum, order, and family. Such achievements would lay the foundational architecture for the fungal evolutionary tree and significantly improve our understanding of fungal biodiversity and systematics. This structured knowledge is crucial not only for academic research but also for applied fields including agriculture, forestry, and environmental management.
The Advanced Grant awarded by the European Research Council is designated for distinguished scientists who have demonstrated exceptional research achievements over the preceding decade. With a budget totaling €3.3 million, Tedersoo’s project, titled “Phylogenetic taxonomy and classification of fungi,” is slated to run until February 2030, providing the resources necessary for sustained, large-scale scientific inquiry and technological advancement. This funding underscores the transformative potential of the research and the European scientific community’s confidence in its success.
The implications of creating a DNA-based taxonomic system extend far beyond basic science. By enabling accurate identification and classification of fungi, scientists can better monitor ecosystem health, predict and manage plant and animal diseases caused by fungal pathogens, and contribute to conservation strategies for threatened organisms. Furthermore, understanding fungal biodiversity at a molecular level can accelerate discoveries in biotechnology, such as novel enzymes and bioactive compounds, fostering innovation in medicine, industry, and agriculture.
Leho Tedersoo’s groundbreaking initiative addresses one of the most pressing gaps in biological sciences: the systematic description of the invisible majority of life on Earth. It acknowledges the limitations of conventional taxonomic frameworks in the age of genomic revolution and sets forth an integrative vision that aligns molecular biology with classical systematics. Through this fusion of disciplines and international collaboration, Tedersoo’s project promises to chart a comprehensive and inclusive evolutionary map of fungi, which may well serve as a paradigm for reorganizing the classification of all living organisms in the future.
Subject of Research: Phylogenetic taxonomy and classification of fungi, focusing on microscopic soil fungi and molecular methods for DNA-based species identification.
Article Title: Revolutionizing Fungal Taxonomy: A DNA-Based Approach to Unveil Hidden Biodiversity
News Publication Date: Not specified
Web References: https://sisu.ut.ee/mmc, https://embl.org
Image Credits: Andres Tennus
Keywords: fungal taxonomy, microscopic fungi, DNA-based classification, phylogenetics, biodiversity, molecular biology, environmental DNA, mycorrhizal studies, soil fungi, evolutionary tree, European Research Council, genus and species classification
Tags: bridging gaps in biological classificationDNA-based classification systemsecological roles of fungiERC grant for fungal taxonomyevolutionary tree of fungifungal systematics researchimpact of parasitic fungimapping unknown fungi speciesmicroscopic fungi biodiversitymycorrhizal studies advancementssoil ecosystem fungiundescribed fungal species
