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Transcript: Marvelous Mycorrhizae
A child says, WHEE!
TVO Kids and Fifth Ground Entertainment, Original.
[Child giggles, joyful music plays, pop]
Text over video footage of a forest reads, “T.V.O. kids presents.”
Bright blue water splashes against a beach. A thick green forest grows beside the beach.
[Whooshing, birds chirping, gentle music plays]
Taviss narrates, THERE'S ONE SPECTACULAR RELATIONSHIP RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL PLANT LIFE AS WE KNOW IT.
Taviss, a ten-year-old girl, walks on a narrow dirt path in a forest. Her dark brown hair is in two braids. She wears a red vest, a red and green striped shirt, and pale blue jeans.
Taviss narrates, BENEATH THIS SOIL, A HUGE UNDERGROUND NETWORK ALLOWS THE ENTIRE FOREST TO THRIVE. IT CONNECTS TREES TO EACH THE, TO THE FOREST FLOOR AND BEYOND. WANT TO KNOW WHAT IT IS?
Taviss says, LET'S GO FIND OUT.
On the beach, Taviss turns and runs towards the forest.
Title: Secrets of the Forest.
A drawing beside the title shows a girl sitting on green tree roots. She holds a magnifying glass and gazes towards the title.
[Inspiring music plays, tinkling]
[Whooshing, gentle music plays]
Taviss narrates, OUR SECRET TODAY BRINGS US TO THE LANDS OF THE CHONNONTON, CHIPPEWA AND MISSISSAUGA PEOPLE.
Red leaves on a tree wave in the wind. A gull flies over the beach.
[Leaves rustling, waves splashing, gull calling]
Taviss narrates, THIS AREA IS NOW A PART OF PINERY PROVINCIAL PARK NEAR GRAND BEND, ONTARIO.
HERE WE CAN FINALLY UNCOVER THIS FASCINATING FOREST RELATIONSHIP AND DR. GREG THORN IS GOING TO LEAD THE WAY.
Greg Thorn smiles as he looks at some fungi. His white hair, beard, and moustache are short, and he wears wire-rimmed eyeglasses and a green shirt with the sleeves rolled up above his elbows.
Taviss narrates, GREG IS A BIOLOGIST AND PROFESSOR EXTRAORDINAIRE AT WESTERN UNIVERSITY, AND HE IS A FUN GUY.
AND THAT, MY FRIENDS, IS A CLUE TO THE SECRET. FUN GUY. FUNGI! WAIT, I GOT IT!
Taviss and Greg meet on a path in the forest.
[Upbeat music plays]
Taviss says, GREG, I THINK I FIGURED IT OUT. THE SECRET IS FUNGI. MUSHROOMS, RIGHT?
Greg says, WELL, KIND OF. SORT OF. NOT EXACTLY.
[Bell dings]
Taviss narrates, I THOUGHT I HAD IT THIS TIME.
Greg explains, MUSHROOMS ARE THE FRUITING BODIES OF A FUNGUS. THE REST OF THE FUNGUS IS WHAT MAKES THIS MARVELOUS RELATIONSHIP WE CALL THE MYCORRHIZAL RELATIONSHIP.
Taviss says, MYCORO-RO-RO WHAT?
Greg says, RIGHT, IT'S KIND OF A HARD WORD BUT IT'S AN EASY CONCEPT. AND THE BEST WAY TO UNDERSTAND IS TO GO BACK TO THE BEGINNING.
Taviss and Greg walk on the path together.
[Whooshing]
Taviss narrates, BACK TO THE BEGINNING OF WHAT? OF TIME? OF TODAY? BEFORE BREAKFAST? MMM... BREAKFAST. FOCUS, TAVISS! GREG'S ABOUT TO SPILL THE TEA.
On the beach, Greg and Taviss walk close to the water.
[Waves splashing]
Greg says, FOR THE FIRST THREE AND A HALF BILLION YEARS OF THIS PLANET'S EXISTENCE, THERE WERE NO PLANTS ON LAND AT ALL.
Taviss asks, WHAT? SO WHERE DID THEY COME FROM?
Greg says, OUT THERE.
Greg points at the water.
Greg explains, PLANTS WERE ONLY IN THE WATER UNTIL THEY EVOLVED TO LIVE ON LAND ABOUT 450 MILLION YEARS AGO.
[Whooshing, ascending tone plays, rustling]
In an animation, a plant jumps out of water and shakes droplets off. It looks down at the land.
The plant asks, WAS THIS HERE THE WHOLE TIME?
[Whooshing]
On the beach, Taviss and Greg turn onto a sandy path leading into the forest.
[Upbeat music plays softly]
Greg says, PLANTS WERE ONLY ABLE TO EVOLVE ON LAND WITH THE HELP OF FUNGI THAT WERE ALREADY GROWING THERE. THEY GOT TOGETHER IN WHAT'S CALLED A SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP.
Taviss asks, WHAT'S A SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP?
Greg replies, IT'S A RELATIONSHIP WHERE TWO DIFFERENT KINDS OF ORGANISMS LIVE TOGETHER, AND IN THIS ONE, BOTH TYPES BENEFITED.
Taviss says, GOT IT.
Greg says, SO THE FUNGI GROWING THROUGH THE SOIL HAD ACCESS TO ALL THE WATER AND NUTRIENTS DOWN THERE AND THE PLANTS LIVING UP ABOVE THE GROUND HAD ACCESS TO THE AIR AND ALL OF THE ENERGY IN THE SUNLIGHT.
[Whooshing, creaking]
In the animation, the plant says, I WISH I COULD SOAK UP MORE FROM THE SOIL.
[Whooshing]
Beneath the grass, white fungi says, I WISH I COULD MAKE SOME MORE ENERGY.
[Slide whistle]
The plant and fungi look at each other.
They both ask, YOU THINKING WHAT I'M THINKING?
The roots of the plant and fungi intertwine.
[Crackling, chiming, whooshing]
In reality, Taviss asks, SO THEY SHARED WHAT EACH OTHER NEEDED?
[Waves splashing, gentle music plays]
Greg replies, EXACTLY. AND THIS RELATIONSHIP WAS SO SUCCESSFUL THAT PLANTS STARTED POPPING UP ALL OVER THE PLACE. AND NOW WE HAVE OUR GREEN PLANET.
Taviss says, AND ALL BECAUSE OF FUNGI.
Greg says, ALL BECAUSE OF THE MYCORRHIZAL RELATIONSHIP.
Taviss says, RIGHT.
[Whooshing]
Taviss and Greg sit beneath a tree and look at the beach.
Taviss asks, SO HOW DID THE PLANTS AND FUNGI SHARE THEIR NUTRIENTS?
Greg replies, GREAT QUESTION, TAV. FUNGI ARE MADE OF MICROSCOPIC THREAD-LIKE CELLS CALLED HYPHAE, AND THESE HYPHAE GROW AND GROW THROUGH THE SOIL AND FORM A NETWORK CALLED THE MYCELIUM.
[Gongs bangs, reverberates]
Taviss narrates, IT'S TIME FOR: A LITTLE KNOWN BUT STILL TOTALLY TRUE AND AMAZING STORY.
Text reads, “A little known but still totally true and amazing story.”
[Typing, ding]
A globe turns.
[Instrumental music plays]
Taviss narrates, THE OLDEST LIVING ORGANISM ON THE ENTIRE PLANET IS ACTUALLY A FUNGUS.
A map shows the location of Oregon in the United States. A photograph shows large golden brown mushrooms growing at the base of a tree.
Taviss narrates, OREGON, IN THE UNITED STATES IS HOME TO A SINGLE HONEY MUSHROOM, WHICH IS TOTALLY HUMONGOUS UNDER THE SURFACE. ITS MYCELIUM NETWORK IS OVER FIVE KILOMETRES WIDE. IT COVERS AN AREA EQUAL TO 1,800 FOOTBALL FIELDS.
Mycelium spreads across a black backdrop.
[Clicking, creaking]
Taviss narrates, AND GET THIS: THIS MYCELIUM NETWORK IS ESTIMATED TO BE OVER 2,400 YEARS OLD. NOW THAT IS SOME PREMIUM MYCELIUM.
THIS HAS BEEN A LITTLE KNOWN BUT STILL TOTALLY TRUE AND AMAZING STORY.
Text reads, “A little known but still totally true and amazing story.”
[Typing, ding]
Greg and Taviss sit on a log by the beach.
[Waves splashing, leaves rustling]
Greg says, SO ONE MYCELIAL NETWORK CAN ACTUALLY CONNECT MANY DIFFERENT PLANTS ALL THROUGH THAT ONE MYCORRHIZAL NETWORK.
Taviss says, I WANT TO SEE THIS MAGIC IN ACTION.
Greg says, WELL, UNFORTUNATELY, MANY MYCORRHIZAL RELATIONSHIPS ARE MADE OF FUNGI THAT ARE TOO SMALL TO SEE.
Taviss asks, SO WE CAN'T SEE IT?
[Bell dings]
Taviss narrates, IS THAT IT? THAT'S THE SECRET; END OF EPISODE; SEE YOU LATER?
Greg says, WELL, THERE ARE SOME KINDS OF MYCORRHIZAE THAT ARE MADE BY MUSHROOM FUNGI. AND IF WE FIND A MYCORRHIZAL MUSHROOM, THEN WE CAN DIG BENEATH IT AND POSSIBLY FIND THE MYCORRHIZAL ROOTS.
[Bell dings]
Taviss narrates, FALSE ALARM. THE SECRET CONTINUES. WOOHOO!
Taviss says, I WANT TO DO THAT.
[Whooshing, upbeat music plays]
Greg, Taviss, and two young adults walk up a wooden staircase in the forest.
Taviss narrates, MORE FRIENDS FOR OUR MYCORRHIZAL SEARCH PARTY.
[Tinkling]
Taviss narrates, MEET KATARINA AND ALICIA.
Katerina kneels beside sticks on the ground. Her dark brown hair is in two long braids. She wears a mint green long-sleeved shirt and grey slacks. Alicia studies a mushroom. Her long brown hair is loose over the shoulders of her grey sweater. She wears black-rimmed eyeglasses and lavender pants.
[Tinkling]
Taviss narrates, THEY ARE MASTERS STUDENTS IN DR. GREG'S LAB. THEY STUDY FUNGI ALL ACROSS CANADA.
SEARCHING FOR MYCORRHIZAL MUSHROOMS IS NO EASY TASK. SO WE'RE SPLITTING UP THE CREW TO COVER MORE GROUND. AREN'T WE SMART?
Taviss and Alicia walk on a dirt path. Katarina and Greg each take paths leading in different directions.
[Gentle music plays]
Taviss says, HEY, ALICIA, COME SEE THIS.
Alicia says, NICE, FIND, TAV. SO, TO SEE IF THE MUSHROOM IS MYCORRHIZAL, WE NEED TO LOOK AT ITS SPORES, WHICH ARE LIKE ITS SEEDS.
Alicia picks the mushroom and holds it in front of Taviss.
[Rustling]
Taviss says, SWEET. WAIT, WHAT ARE THESE RIDGY THINGS?
Alicia explains, THOSE ARE CALLED THE GILLS. THOSE PRODUCE THE SPORES. THE GILLS CAN TELL US A LOT ABOUT WHAT MUSHROOM THIS IS. SO WE CAN LOOK AT HOW BIG THEY ARE, HOW FAR APART THEY ARE, AND IF THEY ATTACH TO THE STEM.
SEE HOW THE GILLS AREN'T ATTACHED TO THE STEM? THOSE ARE CALLED FREE GILLS.
[Whooshing]
In an animation, pale green gills detach from a mushroom and float away.
[Popping]
Gills shout, in high-pitched voices, WE'RE FREE, FREE, FREE!
[Squeaking]
[Upbeat music plays]
In reality, Alicia says, TO SEE WHAT COLOUR THE SPORES ARE, WE CAN TAKE A SPORE PRINT, WHICH IS LIKE A STAMP OF THE SPORES.
Taviss says, I'M IN!
Alicia says, HERE, HOLD THIS.
Alicia gives Taviss the mushroom. Taviss holds it carefully in the palm of her hand. Alicia takes off her red backpack.
[Rustling, upbeat music plays]
Alicia says, SO WE NEED A COUPLE OF THINGS TO MAKE A SPORE PRINT. A CONTAINER, SOME PAPER, AND A KNIFE. SO FIRST I'M GOING TO CUT THE STEM SO THAT WE USE ONLY THE CAP.
SO AFTER WE CUT THE STEM OFF WE'RE GOING TO PUT THE MUSHROOM CAP ON THE PAPER WITH THE GILLS DOWN. AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO PUT
A CONTAINER OVER TOP.
Alicia cuts the stem off the mushroom and puts it on the paper. She puts a plastic container upside down over the mushroom.
Taviss asks, SO HOW DOES THIS WORK?
Alicia replies, SO THERE'S MILLIONS OF SPORES ON THE GILLS THAT ARE GOING TO FALL OFF ONTO THE PAPER AFTER A BUNCH OF HOURS AND THEN WE'LL HAVE A COLOUR.
[Bell dinging]
Taviss narrates, A BUNCH OF HOURS?
YOU KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS. T.V. MAGIC TIME!
[Fastforward whirring]
Later, Taviss and Alicia kneel beside the container.
[Upbeat music plays]
Alicia says, YOU DO THE HONOURS.
Taviss lifts the container and Alicia lifts the mushroom cap. There is a brown stain on the paper beneath where the mushroom was.
Taviss exclaims, WHOA! IT'S BROWN.
Alicia says, AND THIS PROVES EXACTLY WHAT I THOUGHT. IT'S A PLUTEUS MUSHROOM.
Taviss asks, SO, IS IT MYCORRHIZAL?
Alicia says, UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S NOT. ONLY A SMALL GROUP OF MUSHROOMS ARE MYCORRHIZAL. JUST BECAUSE WE SEE A MUSHROOM DOESN'T MEAN IT'S A MYCORRHIZAL FUNGUS.
Taviss says, SO THE SEARCH CONTINUES.
[Whooshing, upbeat music plays]
Alicia and Taviss walk on a dirt path. Katarina is crouching in plants beside the path.
Taviss says, OH, HEY. KATARINA!
Katarina says, HEY, CHECK IT OUT. I FOUND SOMETHING REALLY COOL.
Taviss asks, UH, WHAT IS IT?
Katarina says, IT'S A GOMPHUS MUSHROOM.
Taviss repeats, GOMPHUS?
[Boing]
Taviss narrates, GOMPHUS? SAY THAT THREE TIMES FAST AND TRY NOT TO LAUGH. GOMPHUS. GOMPHUS. GOMPHUS.
Katarina says, YEAH. THEY'RE ALSO CALLED PIG'S EAR MUSHROOMS.
[Whooshing]
In an animation, a pig’s ears have shining black eyes and smiling mouths.
One ear says, HOWDY, GOMPHUS.
The second ear says, HEY, DUDE.
[Whooshing]
Katarina says, AND SOME OTHER FEATURES INCLUDE THE GILLS THAT RUN ALL THE WAY DOWN THE STEM. AND IF YOU CUT A PIECE OF IT OFF... CHECK IT OUT.
Katarina slices a piece of the mushroom off.
Taviss turns to Alicia and says, IT'S PURPLE. LIKE YOUR PANTS.
Katarina says, AND LOOK AT THIS. THEY GO ALL THE WAY AROUND.
Taviss says, WOW, THERE'S A GOMPHUS THERE, THERE, THERE. WHY IS THERE SO MANY?
Katarina explains, A LONG TIME AGO, ONE GOMPHUS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ROOT OF THIS RED OAK TREE. AND, OVER TIME, GREW OUT INTO THIS FAIRY RING.
[Bell dings]
Taviss narrates, FAIRY RING? WELL, THAT'S THE COOLEST NAME EVER.
Taviss says, DOES THAT MEAN IT'S A MYCORRHIZAL FUNGUS?
Katarina says, IT DOES.
Taviss says, YES!
Taviss, Katarina, and Alicia high-five.
[Hands slapping]
[Drumsticks tapping beat, rock music plays]
Text reads, “The Fun Factor.”
[Whooshing]
Taviss sits at a picnic bench and gestures at the forest.
Taviss says, PINERY PROVINCIAL PARK HAS ONE OF MY FAVOURITE CAMPGROUNDS IN ONTARIO. SO LET'S GO CAMPING.
HOW DO WE LOOSEN THAT? WELL, LET'S TRY AND TAKE THIS OUT, I GUESS.
Taviss pulls on a tent in a tent bag.
[Groaning]
Taviss says, GET OUT! COME ON. YES!
Taviss pulls the tent out of the bag and spreads it on the ground.
Taviss says, OH, IT'S IS A LONG ONE.
Taviss assembles a yellow tent pole. She holds it up and limbos beneath it.
Taviss says, OOH! LIMBO, LIMBO, LIMBO.
Taviss slides tent poles through clips and loops on the tent.
Taviss says, WHAT IS THIS CLIP FOR? YOU'RE IN THE WRONG SPOT. AH! OKAY, COME ON, GET OUT! GET OUT! STAY IN. THIS IS SO HARD.
[Groaning]
Taviss says, I'M FRUSTRATED. STAY IN THERE.
Taviss says happily, OKAY, TENT IS READY. OH...
Taviss picks up the tent and the poles cross unevenly over the top.
[Rock music continues]
Taviss says, MAYBE IF I... NO. IF I, LIKE... NOPE. NOPE. NO. NOPE. I HAVE AN IDEA.
Taviss crawls into a sleeping bag on the ground.
Taviss says, YOU KNOW WHAT? I THINK SLEEPING UNDER THE STARS IS MORE MY THING ANYWAYS. GOODNIGHT.
[Whooshing]
In the forest, Taviss, Greg, Katarina, and Alicia kneel by the mushrooms.
[Rustling, gentle music plays]
Greg says, ALL RIGHT, LOOK WHAT WE'VE GOT HERE. THIS IS THE CONCENTRATED MYCELIUM OF THE MYCORRHIZAL MUSHROOM. THIS GOMPHUS RIGHT HERE.
Taviss asks, WHAT'S THIS POWDERY STUFF?
Greg says, THAT'S THE MYCELIUM ITSELF. THE MICROSCOPIC THREADS. THERE'S SO MANY OF THEM, THEY LOOK LIKE A WHITE POWDER.
Taviss asks, WHAT'S MYCELIUM AGAIN?
Greg says, THE MYCELIUM ARE THE THREADS OF THE FUNGUS WHICH GROW THROUGH THE SOIL AND GET THE NUTRIENTS AND WATER AND THEN THEY GIVE THEM TO THE ROOTS OF THE TREE. AND LOOK: HERE IS AN OAK ROOT.
Taviss asks, SO THE PLANT AND THE FUNGI SHARE NUTRIENTS THROUGH THIS ROOT?
Greg says, EXACTLY.
Taviss says, AWESOME. OUR WHOLE GREEN EARTH IS BECAUSE OF THIS. IT'S HONESTLY AMAZING.
Alicia says, ISN'T IT? IT'S MY FAVOURITE THING ABOUT STUDYING FUNGI.
Katarina says, NOT ONLY DO MYCORRHIZAE CONNECT TREES TO FUNGI, BUT ALSO TO OTHER PLANTS AND OTHER TREES.
ABOUT 90 PERCENT OF PLANTS ARE ACTUALLY HAVING THIS RELATIONSHIP WITH FUNGI THROUGH THE MYCORRHIZAL NETWORK.
Greg says, YES, THERE'S STILL SO MUCH TO LEARN THAT THERE'S ROOM FOR YOUNG SCIENTISTS TO STUDY THESE MYCORRHIZAL RELATIONSHIPS AND FIGURE OUT HOW THEY WORK.
Taviss asks, SO, DR. GREG, GOT ANY MORE SPOTS IN YOUR LAB FOR ME?
Greg says, I THINK WE COULD SQUEEZE YOU IN.
[Laughing, whooshing]
Taviss walks in the forest. On the beach, waves splash over the sand.
[Water splashing]
Taviss narrates, RIGHT UNDERNEATH OUR FEET, FUNGI AND PLANT LIFE ARE JOINING FORCES.
In a flashback, Taviss and Greg talk by the beach. In another flashback, Taviss, Greg, Katarina, and Alicia kneel by the gomphus mushrooms.
Taviss narrates, BY SHARING THE NUTRIENTS THEY BOTH NEED, THEY CONNECT THE ENTIRE FOREST THROUGH HUGE MYCELIUM NETWORKS.
NOT EVERY FUNGUS IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS MYCORRHIZAL MAGIC. BUT, IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY, THERE'S A WHOLE SCIENTIFIC WORD STILL LEFT TO DISCOVER.
In the forest, Taviss sits at the base of a tree.
Taviss says, THE SECRET IS OUT: MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI ARE MARVELLOUS!
[Inspiring plays]
Text reads, “Secrets of the Forest is grateful to work in the traditional territories of many different First Nations. We acknowledge their stewardship of these lands since time immemorial and our responsibility to ensure it is never forgotten.”
End credits: Directed by Melissa Peters. Created by Melissa Peters, Raj Panikkar, Christopher Szarka. Written by Melissa Peters. Produced by Raj Panikkar, Christopher Szarka. Featuring Taviss Paula Millington Edwards with Greg Thorn, Alicia Banwell, and Katarina Kukolj. Logos: Fifth Ground Entertainment, T.V.O. Kids.
TVO Kids and Fifth Ground Entertainment, Original.
[Child giggles, joyful music plays, pop]
Text over video footage of a forest reads, “T.V.O. kids presents.”
Bright blue water splashes against a beach. A thick green forest grows beside the beach.
[Whooshing, birds chirping, gentle music plays]
Taviss narrates, THERE'S ONE SPECTACULAR RELATIONSHIP RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL PLANT LIFE AS WE KNOW IT.
Taviss, a ten-year-old girl, walks on a narrow dirt path in a forest. Her dark brown hair is in two braids. She wears a red vest, a red and green striped shirt, and pale blue jeans.
Taviss narrates, BENEATH THIS SOIL, A HUGE UNDERGROUND NETWORK ALLOWS THE ENTIRE FOREST TO THRIVE. IT CONNECTS TREES TO EACH THE, TO THE FOREST FLOOR AND BEYOND. WANT TO KNOW WHAT IT IS?
Taviss says, LET'S GO FIND OUT.
On the beach, Taviss turns and runs towards the forest.
Title: Secrets of the Forest.
A drawing beside the title shows a girl sitting on green tree roots. She holds a magnifying glass and gazes towards the title.
[Inspiring music plays, tinkling]
[Whooshing, gentle music plays]
Taviss narrates, OUR SECRET TODAY BRINGS US TO THE LANDS OF THE CHONNONTON, CHIPPEWA AND MISSISSAUGA PEOPLE.
Red leaves on a tree wave in the wind. A gull flies over the beach.
[Leaves rustling, waves splashing, gull calling]
Taviss narrates, THIS AREA IS NOW A PART OF PINERY PROVINCIAL PARK NEAR GRAND BEND, ONTARIO.
HERE WE CAN FINALLY UNCOVER THIS FASCINATING FOREST RELATIONSHIP AND DR. GREG THORN IS GOING TO LEAD THE WAY.
Greg Thorn smiles as he looks at some fungi. His white hair, beard, and moustache are short, and he wears wire-rimmed eyeglasses and a green shirt with the sleeves rolled up above his elbows.
Taviss narrates, GREG IS A BIOLOGIST AND PROFESSOR EXTRAORDINAIRE AT WESTERN UNIVERSITY, AND HE IS A FUN GUY.
AND THAT, MY FRIENDS, IS A CLUE TO THE SECRET. FUN GUY. FUNGI! WAIT, I GOT IT!
Taviss and Greg meet on a path in the forest.
[Upbeat music plays]
Taviss says, GREG, I THINK I FIGURED IT OUT. THE SECRET IS FUNGI. MUSHROOMS, RIGHT?
Greg says, WELL, KIND OF. SORT OF. NOT EXACTLY.
[Bell dings]
Taviss narrates, I THOUGHT I HAD IT THIS TIME.
Greg explains, MUSHROOMS ARE THE FRUITING BODIES OF A FUNGUS. THE REST OF THE FUNGUS IS WHAT MAKES THIS MARVELOUS RELATIONSHIP WE CALL THE MYCORRHIZAL RELATIONSHIP.
Taviss says, MYCORO-RO-RO WHAT?
Greg says, RIGHT, IT'S KIND OF A HARD WORD BUT IT'S AN EASY CONCEPT. AND THE BEST WAY TO UNDERSTAND IS TO GO BACK TO THE BEGINNING.
Taviss and Greg walk on the path together.
[Whooshing]
Taviss narrates, BACK TO THE BEGINNING OF WHAT? OF TIME? OF TODAY? BEFORE BREAKFAST? MMM... BREAKFAST. FOCUS, TAVISS! GREG'S ABOUT TO SPILL THE TEA.
On the beach, Greg and Taviss walk close to the water.
[Waves splashing]
Greg says, FOR THE FIRST THREE AND A HALF BILLION YEARS OF THIS PLANET'S EXISTENCE, THERE WERE NO PLANTS ON LAND AT ALL.
Taviss asks, WHAT? SO WHERE DID THEY COME FROM?
Greg says, OUT THERE.
Greg points at the water.
Greg explains, PLANTS WERE ONLY IN THE WATER UNTIL THEY EVOLVED TO LIVE ON LAND ABOUT 450 MILLION YEARS AGO.
[Whooshing, ascending tone plays, rustling]
In an animation, a plant jumps out of water and shakes droplets off. It looks down at the land.
The plant asks, WAS THIS HERE THE WHOLE TIME?
[Whooshing]
On the beach, Taviss and Greg turn onto a sandy path leading into the forest.
[Upbeat music plays softly]
Greg says, PLANTS WERE ONLY ABLE TO EVOLVE ON LAND WITH THE HELP OF FUNGI THAT WERE ALREADY GROWING THERE. THEY GOT TOGETHER IN WHAT'S CALLED A SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP.
Taviss asks, WHAT'S A SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIP?
Greg replies, IT'S A RELATIONSHIP WHERE TWO DIFFERENT KINDS OF ORGANISMS LIVE TOGETHER, AND IN THIS ONE, BOTH TYPES BENEFITED.
Taviss says, GOT IT.
Greg says, SO THE FUNGI GROWING THROUGH THE SOIL HAD ACCESS TO ALL THE WATER AND NUTRIENTS DOWN THERE AND THE PLANTS LIVING UP ABOVE THE GROUND HAD ACCESS TO THE AIR AND ALL OF THE ENERGY IN THE SUNLIGHT.
[Whooshing, creaking]
In the animation, the plant says, I WISH I COULD SOAK UP MORE FROM THE SOIL.
[Whooshing]
Beneath the grass, white fungi says, I WISH I COULD MAKE SOME MORE ENERGY.
[Slide whistle]
The plant and fungi look at each other.
They both ask, YOU THINKING WHAT I'M THINKING?
The roots of the plant and fungi intertwine.
[Crackling, chiming, whooshing]
In reality, Taviss asks, SO THEY SHARED WHAT EACH OTHER NEEDED?
[Waves splashing, gentle music plays]
Greg replies, EXACTLY. AND THIS RELATIONSHIP WAS SO SUCCESSFUL THAT PLANTS STARTED POPPING UP ALL OVER THE PLACE. AND NOW WE HAVE OUR GREEN PLANET.
Taviss says, AND ALL BECAUSE OF FUNGI.
Greg says, ALL BECAUSE OF THE MYCORRHIZAL RELATIONSHIP.
Taviss says, RIGHT.
[Whooshing]
Taviss and Greg sit beneath a tree and look at the beach.
Taviss asks, SO HOW DID THE PLANTS AND FUNGI SHARE THEIR NUTRIENTS?
Greg replies, GREAT QUESTION, TAV. FUNGI ARE MADE OF MICROSCOPIC THREAD-LIKE CELLS CALLED HYPHAE, AND THESE HYPHAE GROW AND GROW THROUGH THE SOIL AND FORM A NETWORK CALLED THE MYCELIUM.
[Gongs bangs, reverberates]
Taviss narrates, IT'S TIME FOR: A LITTLE KNOWN BUT STILL TOTALLY TRUE AND AMAZING STORY.
Text reads, “A little known but still totally true and amazing story.”
[Typing, ding]
A globe turns.
[Instrumental music plays]
Taviss narrates, THE OLDEST LIVING ORGANISM ON THE ENTIRE PLANET IS ACTUALLY A FUNGUS.
A map shows the location of Oregon in the United States. A photograph shows large golden brown mushrooms growing at the base of a tree.
Taviss narrates, OREGON, IN THE UNITED STATES IS HOME TO A SINGLE HONEY MUSHROOM, WHICH IS TOTALLY HUMONGOUS UNDER THE SURFACE. ITS MYCELIUM NETWORK IS OVER FIVE KILOMETRES WIDE. IT COVERS AN AREA EQUAL TO 1,800 FOOTBALL FIELDS.
Mycelium spreads across a black backdrop.
[Clicking, creaking]
Taviss narrates, AND GET THIS: THIS MYCELIUM NETWORK IS ESTIMATED TO BE OVER 2,400 YEARS OLD. NOW THAT IS SOME PREMIUM MYCELIUM.
THIS HAS BEEN A LITTLE KNOWN BUT STILL TOTALLY TRUE AND AMAZING STORY.
Text reads, “A little known but still totally true and amazing story.”
[Typing, ding]
Greg and Taviss sit on a log by the beach.
[Waves splashing, leaves rustling]
Greg says, SO ONE MYCELIAL NETWORK CAN ACTUALLY CONNECT MANY DIFFERENT PLANTS ALL THROUGH THAT ONE MYCORRHIZAL NETWORK.
Taviss says, I WANT TO SEE THIS MAGIC IN ACTION.
Greg says, WELL, UNFORTUNATELY, MANY MYCORRHIZAL RELATIONSHIPS ARE MADE OF FUNGI THAT ARE TOO SMALL TO SEE.
Taviss asks, SO WE CAN'T SEE IT?
[Bell dings]
Taviss narrates, IS THAT IT? THAT'S THE SECRET; END OF EPISODE; SEE YOU LATER?
Greg says, WELL, THERE ARE SOME KINDS OF MYCORRHIZAE THAT ARE MADE BY MUSHROOM FUNGI. AND IF WE FIND A MYCORRHIZAL MUSHROOM, THEN WE CAN DIG BENEATH IT AND POSSIBLY FIND THE MYCORRHIZAL ROOTS.
[Bell dings]
Taviss narrates, FALSE ALARM. THE SECRET CONTINUES. WOOHOO!
Taviss says, I WANT TO DO THAT.
[Whooshing, upbeat music plays]
Greg, Taviss, and two young adults walk up a wooden staircase in the forest.
Taviss narrates, MORE FRIENDS FOR OUR MYCORRHIZAL SEARCH PARTY.
[Tinkling]
Taviss narrates, MEET KATARINA AND ALICIA.
Katerina kneels beside sticks on the ground. Her dark brown hair is in two long braids. She wears a mint green long-sleeved shirt and grey slacks. Alicia studies a mushroom. Her long brown hair is loose over the shoulders of her grey sweater. She wears black-rimmed eyeglasses and lavender pants.
[Tinkling]
Taviss narrates, THEY ARE MASTERS STUDENTS IN DR. GREG'S LAB. THEY STUDY FUNGI ALL ACROSS CANADA.
SEARCHING FOR MYCORRHIZAL MUSHROOMS IS NO EASY TASK. SO WE'RE SPLITTING UP THE CREW TO COVER MORE GROUND. AREN'T WE SMART?
Taviss and Alicia walk on a dirt path. Katarina and Greg each take paths leading in different directions.
[Gentle music plays]
Taviss says, HEY, ALICIA, COME SEE THIS.
Alicia says, NICE, FIND, TAV. SO, TO SEE IF THE MUSHROOM IS MYCORRHIZAL, WE NEED TO LOOK AT ITS SPORES, WHICH ARE LIKE ITS SEEDS.
Alicia picks the mushroom and holds it in front of Taviss.
[Rustling]
Taviss says, SWEET. WAIT, WHAT ARE THESE RIDGY THINGS?
Alicia explains, THOSE ARE CALLED THE GILLS. THOSE PRODUCE THE SPORES. THE GILLS CAN TELL US A LOT ABOUT WHAT MUSHROOM THIS IS. SO WE CAN LOOK AT HOW BIG THEY ARE, HOW FAR APART THEY ARE, AND IF THEY ATTACH TO THE STEM.
SEE HOW THE GILLS AREN'T ATTACHED TO THE STEM? THOSE ARE CALLED FREE GILLS.
[Whooshing]
In an animation, pale green gills detach from a mushroom and float away.
[Popping]
Gills shout, in high-pitched voices, WE'RE FREE, FREE, FREE!
[Squeaking]
[Upbeat music plays]
In reality, Alicia says, TO SEE WHAT COLOUR THE SPORES ARE, WE CAN TAKE A SPORE PRINT, WHICH IS LIKE A STAMP OF THE SPORES.
Taviss says, I'M IN!
Alicia says, HERE, HOLD THIS.
Alicia gives Taviss the mushroom. Taviss holds it carefully in the palm of her hand. Alicia takes off her red backpack.
[Rustling, upbeat music plays]
Alicia says, SO WE NEED A COUPLE OF THINGS TO MAKE A SPORE PRINT. A CONTAINER, SOME PAPER, AND A KNIFE. SO FIRST I'M GOING TO CUT THE STEM SO THAT WE USE ONLY THE CAP.
SO AFTER WE CUT THE STEM OFF WE'RE GOING TO PUT THE MUSHROOM CAP ON THE PAPER WITH THE GILLS DOWN. AND THEN WE'RE GOING TO PUT
A CONTAINER OVER TOP.
Alicia cuts the stem off the mushroom and puts it on the paper. She puts a plastic container upside down over the mushroom.
Taviss asks, SO HOW DOES THIS WORK?
Alicia replies, SO THERE'S MILLIONS OF SPORES ON THE GILLS THAT ARE GOING TO FALL OFF ONTO THE PAPER AFTER A BUNCH OF HOURS AND THEN WE'LL HAVE A COLOUR.
[Bell dinging]
Taviss narrates, A BUNCH OF HOURS?
YOU KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS. T.V. MAGIC TIME!
[Fastforward whirring]
Later, Taviss and Alicia kneel beside the container.
[Upbeat music plays]
Alicia says, YOU DO THE HONOURS.
Taviss lifts the container and Alicia lifts the mushroom cap. There is a brown stain on the paper beneath where the mushroom was.
Taviss exclaims, WHOA! IT'S BROWN.
Alicia says, AND THIS PROVES EXACTLY WHAT I THOUGHT. IT'S A PLUTEUS MUSHROOM.
Taviss asks, SO, IS IT MYCORRHIZAL?
Alicia says, UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S NOT. ONLY A SMALL GROUP OF MUSHROOMS ARE MYCORRHIZAL. JUST BECAUSE WE SEE A MUSHROOM DOESN'T MEAN IT'S A MYCORRHIZAL FUNGUS.
Taviss says, SO THE SEARCH CONTINUES.
[Whooshing, upbeat music plays]
Alicia and Taviss walk on a dirt path. Katarina is crouching in plants beside the path.
Taviss says, OH, HEY. KATARINA!
Katarina says, HEY, CHECK IT OUT. I FOUND SOMETHING REALLY COOL.
Taviss asks, UH, WHAT IS IT?
Katarina says, IT'S A GOMPHUS MUSHROOM.
Taviss repeats, GOMPHUS?
[Boing]
Taviss narrates, GOMPHUS? SAY THAT THREE TIMES FAST AND TRY NOT TO LAUGH. GOMPHUS. GOMPHUS. GOMPHUS.
Katarina says, YEAH. THEY'RE ALSO CALLED PIG'S EAR MUSHROOMS.
[Whooshing]
In an animation, a pig’s ears have shining black eyes and smiling mouths.
One ear says, HOWDY, GOMPHUS.
The second ear says, HEY, DUDE.
[Whooshing]
Katarina says, AND SOME OTHER FEATURES INCLUDE THE GILLS THAT RUN ALL THE WAY DOWN THE STEM. AND IF YOU CUT A PIECE OF IT OFF... CHECK IT OUT.
Katarina slices a piece of the mushroom off.
Taviss turns to Alicia and says, IT'S PURPLE. LIKE YOUR PANTS.
Katarina says, AND LOOK AT THIS. THEY GO ALL THE WAY AROUND.
Taviss says, WOW, THERE'S A GOMPHUS THERE, THERE, THERE. WHY IS THERE SO MANY?
Katarina explains, A LONG TIME AGO, ONE GOMPHUS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ROOT OF THIS RED OAK TREE. AND, OVER TIME, GREW OUT INTO THIS FAIRY RING.
[Bell dings]
Taviss narrates, FAIRY RING? WELL, THAT'S THE COOLEST NAME EVER.
Taviss says, DOES THAT MEAN IT'S A MYCORRHIZAL FUNGUS?
Katarina says, IT DOES.
Taviss says, YES!
Taviss, Katarina, and Alicia high-five.
[Hands slapping]
[Drumsticks tapping beat, rock music plays]
Text reads, “The Fun Factor.”
[Whooshing]
Taviss sits at a picnic bench and gestures at the forest.
Taviss says, PINERY PROVINCIAL PARK HAS ONE OF MY FAVOURITE CAMPGROUNDS IN ONTARIO. SO LET'S GO CAMPING.
HOW DO WE LOOSEN THAT? WELL, LET'S TRY AND TAKE THIS OUT, I GUESS.
Taviss pulls on a tent in a tent bag.
[Groaning]
Taviss says, GET OUT! COME ON. YES!
Taviss pulls the tent out of the bag and spreads it on the ground.
Taviss says, OH, IT'S IS A LONG ONE.
Taviss assembles a yellow tent pole. She holds it up and limbos beneath it.
Taviss says, OOH! LIMBO, LIMBO, LIMBO.
Taviss slides tent poles through clips and loops on the tent.
Taviss says, WHAT IS THIS CLIP FOR? YOU'RE IN THE WRONG SPOT. AH! OKAY, COME ON, GET OUT! GET OUT! STAY IN. THIS IS SO HARD.
[Groaning]
Taviss says, I'M FRUSTRATED. STAY IN THERE.
Taviss says happily, OKAY, TENT IS READY. OH...
Taviss picks up the tent and the poles cross unevenly over the top.
[Rock music continues]
Taviss says, MAYBE IF I... NO. IF I, LIKE... NOPE. NOPE. NO. NOPE. I HAVE AN IDEA.
Taviss crawls into a sleeping bag on the ground.
Taviss says, YOU KNOW WHAT? I THINK SLEEPING UNDER THE STARS IS MORE MY THING ANYWAYS. GOODNIGHT.
[Whooshing]
In the forest, Taviss, Greg, Katarina, and Alicia kneel by the mushrooms.
[Rustling, gentle music plays]
Greg says, ALL RIGHT, LOOK WHAT WE'VE GOT HERE. THIS IS THE CONCENTRATED MYCELIUM OF THE MYCORRHIZAL MUSHROOM. THIS GOMPHUS RIGHT HERE.
Taviss asks, WHAT'S THIS POWDERY STUFF?
Greg says, THAT'S THE MYCELIUM ITSELF. THE MICROSCOPIC THREADS. THERE'S SO MANY OF THEM, THEY LOOK LIKE A WHITE POWDER.
Taviss asks, WHAT'S MYCELIUM AGAIN?
Greg says, THE MYCELIUM ARE THE THREADS OF THE FUNGUS WHICH GROW THROUGH THE SOIL AND GET THE NUTRIENTS AND WATER AND THEN THEY GIVE THEM TO THE ROOTS OF THE TREE. AND LOOK: HERE IS AN OAK ROOT.
Taviss asks, SO THE PLANT AND THE FUNGI SHARE NUTRIENTS THROUGH THIS ROOT?
Greg says, EXACTLY.
Taviss says, AWESOME. OUR WHOLE GREEN EARTH IS BECAUSE OF THIS. IT'S HONESTLY AMAZING.
Alicia says, ISN'T IT? IT'S MY FAVOURITE THING ABOUT STUDYING FUNGI.
Katarina says, NOT ONLY DO MYCORRHIZAE CONNECT TREES TO FUNGI, BUT ALSO TO OTHER PLANTS AND OTHER TREES.
ABOUT 90 PERCENT OF PLANTS ARE ACTUALLY HAVING THIS RELATIONSHIP WITH FUNGI THROUGH THE MYCORRHIZAL NETWORK.
Greg says, YES, THERE'S STILL SO MUCH TO LEARN THAT THERE'S ROOM FOR YOUNG SCIENTISTS TO STUDY THESE MYCORRHIZAL RELATIONSHIPS AND FIGURE OUT HOW THEY WORK.
Taviss asks, SO, DR. GREG, GOT ANY MORE SPOTS IN YOUR LAB FOR ME?
Greg says, I THINK WE COULD SQUEEZE YOU IN.
[Laughing, whooshing]
Taviss walks in the forest. On the beach, waves splash over the sand.
[Water splashing]
Taviss narrates, RIGHT UNDERNEATH OUR FEET, FUNGI AND PLANT LIFE ARE JOINING FORCES.
In a flashback, Taviss and Greg talk by the beach. In another flashback, Taviss, Greg, Katarina, and Alicia kneel by the gomphus mushrooms.
Taviss narrates, BY SHARING THE NUTRIENTS THEY BOTH NEED, THEY CONNECT THE ENTIRE FOREST THROUGH HUGE MYCELIUM NETWORKS.
NOT EVERY FUNGUS IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS MYCORRHIZAL MAGIC. BUT, IF YOU LOOK CLOSELY, THERE'S A WHOLE SCIENTIFIC WORD STILL LEFT TO DISCOVER.
In the forest, Taviss sits at the base of a tree.
Taviss says, THE SECRET IS OUT: MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI ARE MARVELLOUS!
[Inspiring plays]
Text reads, “Secrets of the Forest is grateful to work in the traditional territories of many different First Nations. We acknowledge their stewardship of these lands since time immemorial and our responsibility to ensure it is never forgotten.”
End credits: Directed by Melissa Peters. Created by Melissa Peters, Raj Panikkar, Christopher Szarka. Written by Melissa Peters. Produced by Raj Panikkar, Christopher Szarka. Featuring Taviss Paula Millington Edwards with Greg Thorn, Alicia Banwell, and Katarina Kukolj. Logos: Fifth Ground Entertainment, T.V.O. Kids.
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