Abstract: Fungi are widespread and can be found from the Earth’s surface to depths of up to 1.4 km in the continental crust. Based on their ecological habits and nutritional modes, fungi can be categorized as saprotrophic, symbiotic, or parasitic. Hyphae are the basic structural units of fungi. Through their tip-elongated growth and robust metabolic capabilities, fungal hyphae play a unique role in the weathering of silicate minerals, especially those containing nutrient elements. This process regulates essential geological and geochemical processes such as soil formation, mineralization, and the biogeochemical cycling of elements. However, the role of fungi in natural silicate weathering has been relatively overlooked. Our review starts by examining fungal growth patterns, aiming to elucidate their impact on the rate and mechanisms of silicate mineral weathering, as well as their contribution to natural silicate weathering. Through a literature review and in the context of global change, we propose key areas of focus for future research: (1) further quantifying the contribution of fungi to silicate mineral weathering in natural environments, (2) clarifying the coupling of fungal-promoted silicate mineral weathering with geological and geochemical processes, and (3) leveraging functional fungi to improve the efficiency of terrestrial enhanced silicate weathering for carbon removal. These investigations will deepen our understanding of the role of fungi in key surface processes, provide important information for Earth system models (GEOCARB, COPSE, and SCION), enhance the accuracy of predictions regarding the interactions of different spheres in Earth systems, and offer new methods and scientific evidence for the effective carbon sequestration through enhanced silicate weathering.

Key words: fungi, silicate minerals, carbon cycle, carbon sequestration, earth system