Chiang Mai Journal of Science

     Wetlands are diverse and complex ecosystems that provide a wide variety of niches for their inhabitants. The diversity and resources supported by wetlands ensure their ecological sustainability, continuation of elemental cycles, and ecosystem balance. The geographical location, water sources, and the plants and animals that inhabit these ecosystems dictate their characteristics. Among these inhabitants, fungi in wetlands play a crucial role in various ecological functions such as nutrient recycling, natural selection, and mutualistic relationships between different kingdoms. In contrast, research on the significance of fungi and an in-depth taxonomic study of their occurrence and role in tropical wetland ecosystems, such as coastal freshwater wetlands, is sparse. This mini-review consolidates research findings related to the Ascomycota inhabiting tropical wetlands in Thailand, with a particular focus on coastal freshwater wetlands dominated by wetland-dwelling grasses of Poales. Thus, the study helps to unravel the importance of investigating wetland-associated fungal diversity and highlights critical research gaps in the systematics of fungi associated with wetland ecosystems.