Genetics and metabolism of ambrosia fungi

So let me just mention, that we know very little about genetics or molecular evolution of ambrosia fungi, except that many clades independently appear to have lost their sexual reproduction.

Similarly little is known about metabolic features of ambrosia fungi. It appears that they are not very good wood degraders. Instead they rely on quick extraction of easy nutrients in freshly killed trees. That’s something I am now testing with my students.