Siim-Kaarel and others published a paper in Molecular Ecology, where they used exhaustive sampling of a plant community and network analysis methods to demonstrate host preference in arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis. Despite the low number of AM fungal species available for this ubiquitous symbiosis with most land plants, not all partners are equal. From the plant side, there was apparent symbiont preference with forbs and facultatively mycorrhizal plants (ones who can live with mycorrhiza and without) being more selective of their fungal partners.

On 8th of December, the Estonian Mycological Society held its yearly meeting called Actiones. Among others, Jane Oja, who recently defenced her PhD gave a talk on orchid mycorrhiza and researcher Inga Hiiesalu presented her project on AM fungi in high-altitude Himalayas. In addition to presentations, the member of the Mycological Society voted for the Mushroom of the Year 2019, which is Coprinus comatus – shaggy ink cap!

On the 5th of December, the world celebrates international soil day. Festivities also took place in Tartu, where the University of Life Sciences held a traditional Soil Day conference. This year the main subject of the conference was soil biota. From our working group, Maarja Öpik gave a presentation about soil fungi, followed by other presentations about arthropods, bacteria and mites. On this day, it has also become a tradition to announce the Estonian soil of the year. In 2019, it will be Eutric Histosol, wet and delicate! These soils, once abundant in Estonia, are very fragile when agriculturally managed and are in the forefront of action against carbon emissions and climate change.