Long-read ITS metabarcoding of wood-inhabiting fungi across European beech deadwood substrates

This study uses long-read ITS amplicon sequencing (Oxford Nanopore PromethION) to characterize wood-inhabiting fungal communities across multiple deadwood substrates in an unmanaged European beech forest in Belgium. Logs, snags, attached and fallen fine woody debris, and associated soil were sampled to assess how fungal diversity and composition vary within and among substrates while accounting for shared tree origin. The dataset supports research on fungal community assembly, decomposition processes, and eDNA-based forest biodiversity monitoring.