If you've wandered through a forest, you've probably dodged dead, rotting branches or stumps scattered on the ground. This is "deadwood," and it plays several vital roles in forest ecosystems. It ...

Deadwood-decomposing fungi feed germinating orchids, providing the carbon their tiny seeds don’t have. The Kobe University finding not only closes a gap in our understanding of wild orchid ecology but ...

A fungus that can break down all the components of plant cell walls is considered a white rot fungus. If it can only break down cellulose and hemicellulose, it's a brown rot fungus. A research team ...

When you see mushrooms or other fungi growing out of the trunk of a tree, pay attention. It’s a sign that the wood inside the tree is decaying. “It’s something you want to have a professional look at ...

Decay is a complex process in which organisms use a repertoire of enzymes to slowly exploit and ultimately digest their hosts. Fungi are master decayers of dead plant matter, including wood. So-called ...

Foresters and researchers are using sound to look inside living trees. A new study presents methods for use of sonic tomography, which measures wood decay by sending sound waves through tree trunks.