Emily Johnson
The Arabian Desert is known for its extreme temperatures, with daytime temperatures soaring to 45°C on average in Saudi Arabia and occasionally reaching 54°C. Despite these harsh conditions, the desert is home to a diverse range of fungi that have adapted to the challenging environment. These fungi have attracted the interest of scientists, who are studying their unique characteristics and potential applications in sustainable agriculture and biomedicine. With the threats of desertification and climate change, understanding the resilience of these fungi and their contributions to the ecosystem is becoming increasingly important. This paragraph introduces the topic of mushrooms in the Arabian Desert, highlighting the desert's harsh conditions, the presence of fungi, and the significance of studying these unique organisms.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Desert | Arabian Desert |
| Fungi found | Ascomycota, Basal fungi, Basidiomycota, Dothideomycetes, Pezizomycetes, Sordariomycetes, Fusarium brachygibbosum, A. phoenicis, A. proliferans, P. chrysogenum, A. niger, Penicillium, Aspergillus, Mucor, Phoma, Alternaria |
| Fungal Phyla | Ascomycota, Basal fungi, Basidiomycota |
| Most abundant classes | Dothideomycetes, Pezizomycetes, Sordariomycetes |
| Isolated colonies | 11 colonies of filamentous fungi |
| Genera | Fusarium (F. redolens, F. solani, F. equiseti), Chaetomium (C. madrasense), Albifimbria |
| Locations | Riyadh, Mada'in Saleh, Wadi Rum |
| Common species | Podaxis pistillaris, Desert Shaggy Mane |
| Other names | Desert truffles, Tirfas |
| Uses | Food, Medicine, Body painting |
| Region | Australia, Jordan, Saudi Arabia |
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What You'll Learn
- Fungi in the Arabian Desert can survive high temperatures and low moisture
- Desert fungi have thick-walled spores and hyphae that access nutrients and water
- Desert truffles are found along the North African coast from Morocco to Iraq
- Desert fungi produce valuable antioxidants and enzymes
- Fungi in the Arabian Desert improve plant survival
Fungi in the Arabian Desert can survive high temperatures and low moisture
Fungi in the Arabian Desert, covering a total area of 2,300,000 square kilometres, can survive high temperatures and low moisture. The Arabian Desert, which covers a large part of Saudi Arabia, is characterised by extremely high daytime temperatures, with an average summer temperature of around 45°C and maximum values reaching 54°C. The region also experiences very low annual rainfall.
Despite these extreme conditions, the desert soil is rich in microorganisms, including a diverse community of fungi. These fungi have protective morphological features that enable them to tolerate high temperatures and low moisture levels. For example, they contain melanin in their cell walls, have thick-walled spores, and form hyphae that can cross air-filled soil pores to access nutrients and water.
One such fungus is Podaxis pistillaris, commonly known as the desert shaggy mane. It is found in deserts and semi-deserts worldwide, including in Jordan and Australia. Desert shaggy manes produce fruiting bodies after rainfall, as this water-intensive process can only occur when there is a surplus of water. The tough and fibrous nature of their fruiting bodies makes them inedible, which may be a survival strategy to avoid being consumed by desert animals.
Other fungal species identified in the Arabian Desert include Fusarium brachygibbosum, A. phoenicis, A. proliferans, and P. chrysogenum. These species exhibit varying levels of biochemical activity, with Fusarium brachygibbosum and A. phoenicis displaying the highest activity. Additionally, species of Penicillium, Aspergillus, Mucor, Phoma, Alternaria, and Fusarium recovered from Arabian desert soils exhibit antimicrobial activities.
The biodiversity of fungi in the Arabian Desert highlights their ability to survive and even thrive in extreme conditions, contributing to the unique ecology of this important desert region.
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Desert fungi have thick-walled spores and hyphae that access nutrients and water
The Arabian Desert covers a total area of 2,300,000 square kilometres, making up a large part of Saudi Arabia. The geography of Saudi Arabia is characterised by extremely high daytime temperatures and an extreme drop in temperature at night, with very low annual rainfall. These harsh conditions have not prevented the existence of a diverse fungal community in the Arabian Desert.
Desert fungi have evolved protective features to survive in such challenging environments. One notable adaptation is the presence of thick-walled spores and hyphae. These structural features enable fungi to access nutrients and water, which are scarce in desert soils. The thick walls act as a barrier, preventing excessive water loss and allowing fungi to retain moisture in arid conditions.
The thick-walled spores are crucial for the survival and dispersal of desert fungi. Spores are reproductive structures produced by fungi, containing genetic material that gives rise to new fungal individuals. In the desert, spores may remain dormant for extended periods, waiting for favourable conditions to germinate and initiate the growth of new fungi. The thick walls protect the spores during their dormant state, ensuring their viability even under harsh temperature and moisture fluctuations.
Additionally, the hyphae of desert fungi play a vital role in accessing nutrients and water. Hyphae are thread-like structures that make up the body of a fungus, forming a network called the mycelium. In desert fungi, the hyphae can grow extensively, crossing air-filled soil pores to reach nutrients and moisture sources. This adaptive feature allows fungi to explore a larger volume of soil, increasing their chances of acquiring the necessary resources for survival.
The discovery of thick-walled spores and hyphae in desert fungi highlights their remarkable ability to adapt to extreme conditions. These adaptations enable fungi to thrive in arid environments, contributing to the biodiversity of the Arabian Desert and other desert ecosystems worldwide.
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Desert truffles are found along the North African coast from Morocco to Iraq
Desert truffles, a species of the mushroom family, can be found in various locations across the world, including along the North African coast from Morocco to Iraq. They are known by different names in various countries and regions. For instance, in Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia, they are known as "terfez," while the Bedouin of the Western Desert refer to them as "terfas." In Turkey, they are called "domalan" or "borchii," and in Kuwait, they are known as "fagga." English-speaking countries often call them "honey truffles."
The three most common types of desert truffles are Tirmania, Terfezia, and Tuber. These varieties have been sourced in North Africa for over 1800 years. The Tuber variety, found in Morocco, is similar to the European truffle in terms of appearance and flavor. On the other hand, Tirmania and Terfezia, collectively known as kamah, differ from their European counterparts. They come in white (Tirmania) and black (Terfezia) varieties, are larger in size and have a milder flavor, often being eaten as vegetables.
Desert truffles are highly prized and valued for their unique characteristics. They are formed near Sunrose (Helianthemum) plants and other ectomycorrhizal plants, including Cistus, oaks, and pines. They are challenging to locate due to their arid and dry terrain, and their presence may be indicated by cracks in the soil or the presence of specific grasses or rockrose bushes.
The taste of desert truffles is distinct from their European counterparts, with a flavor profile resembling a combination of mushrooms and artichokes. They are also more affordable than European truffles. For example, in 2019, high-quality Iraqi truffles were priced at just $3 for 500 grams, making them a cost-effective option for those seeking the unique flavor and culinary experience of truffles.
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Desert fungi produce valuable antioxidants and enzymes
The Arabian Desert covers a total area of 2,300,000 km2, making up a large part of Saudi Arabia. The geography of Saudi Arabia is characterised by extremely high daytime temperatures and a significant drop in temperature at night, with very low annual rainfall. The desert's soil is known to be rich in microorganisms that can withstand these extreme conditions of high temperature and low moisture.
A study on fungal communities in the desert soils of the Arabian Peninsula revealed several fungal species that have not been previously reported. The study also investigated the potential of these fungi to produce valuable antioxidants and enzymes. Desert fungi have protective morphological features, such as melanin in their cell walls, thick-walled spores, and hyphae that enable them to access nutrients and water.
The study identified 25 saprotrophic species from 68 isolates, including 13 culturable fungal species not previously reported from Arabian desert soils and six new species not recorded from Saudi Arabian desert soils. The isolates Fusarium brachygibbosum and A. phoenicis exhibited the highest biochemical activity. Other active isolates included A. proliferans, P. chrysogenum, and A. niger, which displayed both high and low biochemical activities.
The correlation between fungal biochemical activity and soil texture variables, such as the content of silt, clay, and sand, was also explored. While no generalizable relationship was established, each fungal isolate is likely to produce multiple antioxidants and enzymes. These compounds include flavonoids, phenols, saponins, steroids, tannins, terpenoids, and alkaloids, as well as enzymes like cellulase, laccase, lipase, protease, amylase, and chitinase.
The discovery of these valuable biochemicals in desert fungi highlights the potential of desert soil as a promising source for further exploration and research.
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Fungi in the Arabian Desert improve plant survival
Fungi are present in the Arabian deserts of Saudi Arabia and Jordan. Fungi in desert soils have survived under highly stressed conditions of high temperature and low moisture. Fungi in the Arabian Desert have been found to produce valuable antioxidants and enzymes, indicating their potential use as a source of biochemicals.
A study on the fungal community of sand samples from Saudi Arabia and Jordan identified the fungal Phyla Ascomycota, Basal fungi, and Basidiomycota. The most abundant detected classes were Dothideomycetes, Pezizomycetes, and Sordariomycetes. A total of 11 colonies of filamentous fungi were isolated and cultured from six samples, and the ITS sequencing pointed toward five different species of the class Sordariomycetes.
Fungi in the Arabian Desert have been found to exhibit strong antagonistic activity against soil-borne pathogenic fungi, revealing their potential use as biocontrol agents to help various crop plants against plant pathogens. For example, isolates from North Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, were identified as exhibiting strong antagonistic activity against the fungal pathogen Pythium aphanidermatum. These isolates also showed plant growth-promoting effects on cucumbers by increasing plant height, stem length, fresh, and dry weight.
The use of desert microbes from the Arabian Peninsula deserts has been explored for boosting sustainable agriculture in extreme environments. The isolation of novel endophytic PGPB (plant growth-promoting bacteria) that are adapted to poor soil conditions can be a potential strategy to use as inoculants for poor soils in arid regions. This indicates that fungi in the Arabian Desert can improve plant survival through their ability to promote plant growth and act as biocontrol agents against plant pathogens.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, there are mushrooms in the Arabian Desert. Desert soil is known to be rich in microorganisms that can tolerate extreme conditions of high temperature and little available moisture.
A study identified 13 culturable fungal species that had not been reported previously from Arabian desert soils. Six more species had not been reported from Saudi Arabian desert soils. Some of the fungal species include Fusarium brachygibbosum, A. phoenicis, A. proliferans, P. chrysogenum, and A. niger.
The Arabian Desert covers a total area of 2,300,000 square kilometers, making up a large part of Saudi Arabia. It is one of the most important deserts in the world.
