Exploring the concept of longevity in fungi

For most organisms, we rely on the ability to observe them from birth to death in order to fully understand their ecology, life cycles, adaptations, and interactions with other organisms. For fungi, this is a challenge, and little is known about how old they can become and in what form they persist in the environment. In this opinion article, we highlight the complexity of determining the longevity of fungi. We provide an overview of how the age of fungal individuals and the persistence of mycelial structures have been measured in different groups of fungi. Finally, we propose ideas for advancing the study of fungal longevities and discuss how differences in fungal longevity and mycelial persistence can impact the ways we study and manage fungi in ecosystems.