Fungi Thrive After Wildfires by Feasting on Charcoal

New UC Riverside research reveals how certain fungi genetically adapt to consume charred remains.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 1:47am

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Researchers at the University of California, Riverside have discovered that some fungi are able to thrive in the aftermath of wildfires by developing specialized genetic adaptations to feast on charcoal and other burned organic matter. The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, examined fungi collected from seven different California wildfire sites over five years and found three main evolutionary strategies the fungi use to break down charcoal, including gene duplication, sexual reproduction, and even acquiring genes from bacteria.

Why it matters

Understanding how certain fungi can digest charcoal and other fire-affected materials could lead to new applications for using fungi to clean up environmental contamination from oil spills, mining waste, and other industrial processes. While the survival strategies of plants in fire-prone ecosystems are well-studied, there is much less known about the role of fungi, which play a crucial part in post-fire ecosystem recovery.

The details

The researchers built a collection of fungi gathered from seven different wildfire burn sites across California and sequenced their genes. They found three main evolutionary strategies the fungi use to break down charcoal: some use gene duplication to make more of the enzymes needed, others rely on sexual reproduction to quickly evolve charcoal-digesting abilities, and one fungus even acquired useful genes from bacteria through horizontal gene transfer, a rare occurrence between kingdoms. The team also identified how some fungi survive the fire itself, such as by producing heat-resistant spore structures or living deeper in the soil.

  • The study was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in January 2026.
  • The researchers collected fungi samples from seven different California wildfire sites over a five-year period.

The players

Sydney Glassman

An associate professor of microbiology and plant pathology at the University of California, Riverside and the corresponding author of the study.

Aspergillus

A genus of green mold fungi that can reproduce asexually and use gene duplication to produce more enzymes to digest charcoal.

Basidiomycota

A large group of fungi that contains the classic mushroom-forming species and relies on sexual reproduction to quickly evolve the ability to metabolize charcoal.

Coniochaeta hoffmannii

A fungus that acquired useful genes from bacteria through the rare process of horizontal gene transfer, allowing it to break down burned organic matter.

Pyronema

A fungus that does not possess as much genetic machinery to break down charcoal, but instead quickly forms tiny orange cup-shaped mushrooms in a competitor-free environment after a fire.

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What they’re saying

“We knew certain fungi were heat resistant, that some could grow quickly in scars where competitors have been burned away, and that others could consume nutrients in charcoal. Now we know the genetics behind these incredible abilities.”

— Sydney Glassman, Associate Professor of Microbiology and Plant Pathology

“This kind of gene sharing across kingdoms is incredibly rare. But it gives this fungus the genes it needs to break down burn scars.”

— Sydney Glassman, Associate Professor of Microbiology and Plant Pathology

What’s next

The researchers plan to further investigate how the genetic adaptations of these fire-loving fungi could be harnessed to help clean up environmental contamination from human activities like oil spills, mining waste, and industrial processes.

The takeaway

The ability of certain fungi to thrive in the aftermath of wildfires by evolving specialized genetic tools to consume charcoal and other burned organic matter represents a remarkable example of how life can adapt to even the most extreme environmental conditions. This research could lead to new bioremediation applications to help restore landscapes and clean up human-caused pollution.