“[Fungi] are just awesomely wonderful. If you take the time, you’ll discover the ‘secrets’ [of mycology],” Prof. Kathie Hodge, plant pathology, said during a lecture entitled “Beneath Notice: Little Fungi for Good and Evil.” The lecture was held on the first floor of Mann Library and was attended in record numbers by graduate students, professors and other members of the community.

Hodge spent an hour describing many different species of fungi on a scale of “good” to “evil.” She was wowed by the audience once she mentioned that Aspergillus niger, the black mold, is the main source of the citric acid present in Mountain Dew. In fact, she said, “most of the citric acid production in the world is made by the little black fungus called Aspergillus niger.”

Contrary to the benefit of A. niger, Hodge argued that the white mold that grows on the faces of hibernating bats are “indisputably evil.” Recent records suggest that nearly half a million bats in the Northeast are affected by this kind of fungus. Still, she said, it is disputable as to whether a fungus is responsible for the aforementioned syndrome.

“We don’t know the vast majority of fungi in the world; [In fact] we’re starting from scratch about this [syndrome],” citing that 95 percent of fungi in the world are still unknown.

How then “do we know that we do not know over 95 percent” of the fungal diversity in the world?, asked a member of the audience.

While there is no clear result to confirm her statement, Hodge argued that such a claim is based on extrapolations from data previously gathered from cataloging flora and fauna diversity.

John Gottula grad said the talk was “marvelous.” “Kathy [Hodge] knows the subject inside and out, and she can bring an obscure topic to life.” He added “this is an opportunity for me to get ac­quainted to what everyone around me seems interested in.”

While Hodge gave her talk on the first floor, other researchers displayed their findings at the second floor gallery room of Mann Library featuring “Fungus Amongus,” a collection of various species of fungi; from lethal mycotoxin to pink delicious oyster mushroom to Rhizopus nigricans, used in contraceptive pills.

Allison Jack grad and Marin Brewer grad presented their work on the Phytophthora infestans and grape powdery mildew, respectively.