Two scientists from Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria (RBGV) will showcase leading Australian research on fungi and forest ecosystems at the International Conference on Mycorrhiza (ICOM 2026), to be held in Cairns from 12–17 July. Dr Camille Truong, Research Scientist (Mycology), and Dr Naveed Davoodian, Postdoctoral Fellow, will present findings that advance global understanding of mycorrhizal fungi; the microscopic partners essential to plant health, ecosystem resilience, and biodiversity.

Dr Camille Truong’s research bridges traditional taxonomy with state-of-the-art genomics, bioinformatics and community ecology to uncover how fungal diversity shapes ecosystems. With a particular focus on ectomycorrhizal fungi and their roles in forest soils, her work contributes to a growing recognition of fungi as foundational to environmental health. In addition to her research, Dr Truong provides expert mushroom identifications for the Victorian Poisons Information Centre, mentors university students across Victoria, and serves on multiple international scientific boards. Her contributions to fungal conservation and research were recognised with a 2022 Maxwell-Hanrahan Field Biology Award.

At ICOM 2026, Dr Truong will present new findings from one of Australia’s most extreme and dynamic landscapes: the Simpson Desert. Using environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis, her team surveyed plants and soil fungi across dune systems and floodplains shaped by episodic flooding. This work reveals how intermittent water flows from northern subtropical regions transform desert ecosystems belowground, promoting bursts of fungal diversity linked to annual plant growth and key species such as Coolabah trees. The research establishes an important baseline for understanding desert mycorrhizal communities and highlights how climate-driven events influence biodiversity in arid environments.

Dr Truong is also a collaborator on a series of student-led studies being presented at the conference, reflecting RBGV’s strong role in mentoring the next generation of fungal ecologists. These projects span Australia and Southeast Asia, examining the diversity, distribution and ecological importance of fungi in changing environments. From uncovering vast numbers of undescribed truffle-like species and their reliance on native marsupials for dispersal, to mapping how fungal partnerships shape where trees can grow across the continent, the research underscores both the richness of fungal biodiversity and its vulnerability to climate change, habitat disturbance, and land-use practices. Collectively, these studies highlight the need to better document and conserve fungal species, many of which remain unknown to science despite their critical ecological roles.

Dr Naveed Davoodian will present new research into the systematics of Mesophelliaceae, a group of truffle-like fungi that form symbiotic relationships with Eucalyptus species and are a key food source for native mammals. His work, conducted in collaboration with RBGV colleagues and international partners, has identified new species, clarified classification challenges, and provided fresh insights into the group’s evolutionary history. Mesophelliaceae species are notable for their unusual fruiting bodies, which can resemble chewing gum or cork and contain complex internal structures that complicate laboratory analysis.

Despite these challenges, Dr Davoodian and collaborators have used molecular approaches, including fossil-calibrated analyses, to trace the evolutionary origins of the group to approximately 25 million years ago, with a major diversification around 12 million years ago. These findings align with earlier studies and deepen scientific understanding of how these fungi evolved within Australian ecosystems. The research also highlights the importance of continued investment in fungal systematics, which underpins biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management.

RBGV’s presence at ICOM 2026 reflects the institution’s growing international leadership in mycology and its commitment to advancing scientific knowledge of fungi as a critical, yet often overlooked, component of biodiversity. By combining field-based exploration with cutting-edge molecular tools, RBGV scientists are helping to reveal the hidden networks that sustain forests, deserts and agricultural landscapes alike. 

Talks at ICOM 2026