Friday, September 12th, 2008

The Fabulous Fungi

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From death caps to puffballs, the fruiting bodies of fungi can be grouped into about a dozen major categories. Mycologist Roy Halling walks us through the wide world of mushrooms and takes us on a fungi foraging foray on the grounds of the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx. (Credits: Time lapse courtesy of Kent Loeffler Dept. of Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Cornell University. Cover shot by Maria Keays/flickr. Produced by Flora Lichtman ) Viewed 21522 times. See More Videos

Everyone gets excited about shiitakes and truffles, but what about the rest of the fungal kingdom -- the yeasts, molds, and other wee beasties? On one hand, fungi are responsible for the bread we eat, the beer we drink, and the flavor of certain cheeses. They also help break down organic matter, returning nutrients to the soil. On the other hand, scientists say fungi cost millions each year in disease and infection. Yet good or bad, we know little about them. In this hour of Science Friday, we'll explore the good, the bad, and the tasty, as we take a look at that underappreciated and often poorly understood fifth kingdom -- the fungi.