How to boost fungal diversity exploration in the Monte Desert biome

Fungi are key microorganisms for many ecosystems, gather from 1.5 to 12 millions species and do occur in drylands all over the world.In Argentina, fungi may not be highly diverse in drylands, but estimates show a high uncertainty, highlighting the need for more mycological studies -especially in the Monte Desert biome.Building on a focus group on next generation sequencing and discussing preliminary results on Monte soils from Mendoza province (Argentina), our perspective highlights how to boost studies on fungal diversity and ecology in drylands, especially in regions where mycologists and samples are missing but interest is rising.We discuss why studying fungal diversity might be particularly important in the Monte Desert biome, how next generation sequencing but also plant root observations can reveal fungal diversity, functions, and interactions, and which challenges still remain to interpret such results.We emphasize the need for inter and transdisciplinary projects, integrating local interest in soil fungi across diverse disciplines, and translating these findings into practical applications for soil management and conservation -and share prospective questions on fungi ecology in the Monte Desert biome.