407-million year-old disease-causing fungus unveiled at museum

Researchers discover a 407-million-year-old fungus fossil, Potteromyces asteroxylicola, in the Rhynie Chert, marking the oldest evidence of fungi causing diseases. The fossil shows the fungus infecting the ancient plant Asteroxylon mackiei, revealing a predator-prey interaction. The unique reproductive structures of Potteromyces, called conidiophores, distinguish it as a new species. A second specimen confirms its place as one of the oldest ancestors of disease-causing fungi. The findings, published in Nature Communications, highlight the potential of Potteromyces to unlock secrets about fungal evolution using confocal microscopy.