Asian Oyster Mushrooms Spread in the US

An Asian mushroom, the yellow oyster mushroom (*Pleurotus citrinopileatus*), is spreading in the forests of the USA, according to a new study. The mushroom, widely cultivated in eastern Russia, northern China, and Japan, was first identified in the US 25 years ago and has now spread to 23 states and one Canadian province.

The study, published in Current Biology, warns that the yellow oyster mushroom, although feeding on dead organic matter, competes with native fungal species and may trigger chain ecological reactions. Genetic analyses showed that dead wood colonized by *Pleurotus* hosts fewer local fungal species.

Aishwarya Virabahu, the study's first author, noted that yellow oyster mushrooms appear to be destroying dead trees faster, threatening the habitat and potentially affecting insects and other animals. Researchers emphasize the need for biosecurity rules to prevent similar incidents in the future.