On Sept. 23, 2020, the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) announced that a harmless airborne fungus, Cladosporium sphaerospermum strain TC09 (TC09), can dramatically accelerate plant growth if a germinating plant is near the fungus as it emits volatiles or gases.

Scientists used tobacco and pepper plants as models to study the conditions for accelerated plant growth once exposed to TC09. USDA scientists were then able to stimulate extremely rapid plant growth, earlier flowering and fruit yield increases.