Golden Fungus Spreading in North America
The Golden Oyster Mushroom, also known as ‘Pleurotus Citrinopileutus’, has been spreading through North America for the past decade. It is an invasive type of fungi that may affect other kinds of life.
Most native mushrooms and fungi are important to the health of ecosystems. They break down dead wood and other plant matter, helping trees decay. Mushrooms and fungi can also cycle nutrients such as carbon and nitrogen, transforming them into more usable forms that enter the soil and atmosphere.
Golden Oyster Mushrooms are native to Asia but were brought to America in the early 2000s. Golden Oyster Mushroom kits rose in popularity as they were beautiful to grow and edible.
Golden Oyster Mushrooms can pose a risk to forest fungal biodiversity because they can reduce the amount of other mushrooms in the area. Because of that, the mushroom can also harm the health of ecosystems. The invasive type of mushroom has been spreading around North America for more than a decade, according to NYC.
In a study performed by scientists Michelle Jusino and Mark Banik, the U.S. Forest Service and some other scientists drilled into dead trees to collect wood shavings that contained the fungi in each tree.
By extracting DNA from 78 samples of wood from 26 dead elm trees, 15 trees were hosts for the invasive type of mushroom.
“Ecosystems need biodiversity to thrive, and that includes microbial biodiversity. The rapid spread of golden oysters suggests that native decomposers are being outcompeted and displaced, which is a major concern for ecosystem functioning,” says Andi Bruce, a professional mycologist. She highlights the severity of those mushrooms, explaining that those fungi are a big concern for the ecosystem.
But what can we do about this invasive species? If you are a mushroom cultivator and grow Pleurorus Citrinopileutus, pick up the mushroom as early as possible, according to OMS. As the fungi mature, it grows spores which could drop, then grow into more mushrooms, which could then quickly spread throughout the area. You could also educate people about this mushroom’s spread, and discuss how you can stop it.
Sources
https://theconversation.com/the-golden-oyster-mushroom-craze-unleashed-an-invasive-species-and-a-worrying-new-study-shows-its-harming-native-fungi-259006
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/16/science/golden-oyster-mushrooms-invasive-fungus.html