Forest fungi are talking to each other after rainfall

Amazing stuff!

"... for the new study, researchers ... conducted field tests on a type of ectomycorrhizal fungi known as Laccaria bicolor, small tan-colored mushrooms that grow on forest floors. The team attached electrodes to six of the mushrooms in a cluster and measured the electrical signals they passed between each other.
They noticed that the electrical signals fluctuated over time, and seemed to correlate with changes in temperature and moisture. In fact, the signals spiked after rainfall, and were found to be stronger between mushrooms that were closer together.  ..."

"Certain fungi play a critical role in the ecological sustenance of forest trees. Ectomycorrhizal fungi are one such example. Commonly found on pine, oak, and birch trees, ectomycorrhizal fungi form a sheath around the outside of tree roots, and their mycelial body develops into vast underground networks that absorb vital nutrients from the soil and transfer it to the trees.

Scientists have been studying the possibility of electrical signal transfer between mushrooms and across trees via the mycelial networks. It is thought that fungi generate electrical signals in response to external stimuli and use these signals to communicate with each other, coordinating growth and other behavior. It has even been hypothesized that these signals can be used to help transfer nutrients to plants and trees. ...
The researcher correlated this fluctuation with precipitation and temperature, and causality analysis revealed that the post-rain electric potential showed signal transport among mushrooms. This transport was particularly strong between spatially close mushrooms and demonstrated directionality. ..."

From the highlights and abstract:

"Highlights

• Electrical potentials of 6 Laccaria bicolor fruit bodies were measured in the field.

• Electrical potentials were increased after the rain.

• Causality analysis showed electrical signal transport among fruit bodies.

Abstract

We measured extracellular bioelectrical activities of the ectomycorrhizal basidiomycete Laccaria bicolor under field conditions to examine its response to environmental factors. Six fruit bodies of L. bicolor in a cluster, to which electrodes were attached, exhibited less electrical potentials at the beginning, probably due to the lack of precipitation for over a week. However, its electrical potential fluctuated after raining, sometimes over 100 mV. The electrical potential of the fruit bodies and its fluctuation were correlated with precipitation. Causality analysis of electrical potential after the rain showed electrical signal transport among fruit bodies, particularly between spatially close ones, with potential directionality. Our preliminary results bring a call for studies on fungal electrical potentials in a more ecological context under field conditions."

Forest fungi overheard talking to each other after rain showers Whether they’re hacking the brains of bugs or mining for gold, fungi are craftier than we give them credit for. Now researchers in Japan have studied how forest mushrooms communicate with each other, and found that they're mostly chatty when it rains.

How do fungi communicate? Each fungus may “speak” with many other species— and it turns out they have a lot to say.

Mushrooms and their Post-rain, Electrical Conversations

Electrical potentials in the ectomycorrhizal fungus Laccaria bicolor after a rainfall event (no public access)

Mushrooms in the field with an electrode attached to the top and bottom.