Nizwa-- A research team from the University of Nizwa participated in a one-of-a-kind scientific breakthrough that resulted in the discovery of a new fungal family, which includes two genera and seven species. The fungus family is known for its exceptional capacity to live within ant colonies.
The findings were published in the international journal Studies in Mycology, one of the Netherlands' most reputable mycology publications.
The accomplishment was made via worldwide cooperation with scientists from Brazil, China, the Netherlands, and Austria. Dr. Abdullah Mohammed Al Hatmi, assistant professor at Nizwa University and director of the Microbiology Laboratory at the university's Centre for Research on Natural Sciences and Medical Sciences, led the team.
Al Hatmi remarked that the finding represents a watershed point in fungal research, since it emphasizes the complicated symbiotic interactions that exist between fungi and ants dating back millions of years.
Al Hatmi remarked that discovering a new fungal family provides prospects for understanding ecological balance and microbial diversity. He said that Nizwa University is proud to be a part of this global research and committed to promoting high-quality research and strengthening international academic links.
Al Hatmi stated that the discovery improves our knowledge of fungi's ecological function and opens up possibilities for new research into the connections between microbes and insects in their natural habitats.
The research advances understanding in the disciplines of biodiversity and the microenvironment of living creatures. The research team took ant nests from many plants and successfully isolated and identified fungal species using microscopic, physiological, and genetic methods. The study resulted in the discovery of a new family in the Chaetothyriales phylum, which is well known for its ant-symbiotic species.
