Fungi-cranberry pairings have unsuspected potential

You'll be surprised to learn how much zing a root fungus can add to a favourite seasonal berry. At many winter holiday tables, cranberries have pride of place as an accompaniment to roast turkey and an ingredient in sparkling cocktails. This tart little berry is a big part of our seasonal cuisine here in Quebec, and for good reason: in any given year, we're either the second or third largest producer of cranberries in the world. And scientists at Université de Montréal may have found a natural way to boost production. In an article in the Journal of Fungi, Bhagya C. Thimmappa , a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, reported finding that a microbial fungus called Endophytic Champignon 4 (EC4) that colonizes the interior and exterior of cranberry plant roots also promotes the growth of both roots and shoots. Her research was supervised by professor Gertraud Burger.