综述了菌物在森林生态系统中的功能和作用方面的研究进展，表明菌物是森林生态系统中不可忽视的重要组成部分，对森林生态系统的建立、演替、稳定、物质循环和能量流动等都具有重要的影响。菌物与植物的共生是植物起源和森林形成的基础，而且是森林健康发展的关键；菌物在森林中的分解作用和对土壤母岩的风化作用是生物地球化学循环的重要环节，且菌体本身是森林中的主要碳、氮汇成员；菌物多样性是森林物种多样性和生态稳定的决定因素之一，其多样性的丧失可以直接影响森林的生态系统乃至加剧地球的大气温室效应。菌物在我国森林保护和可持续发展以及生态环境建设上具有重要的位置。
The recent advance of research on fungi in forest ecosystem is reviewed in this paper. It is shown that fungi are important components in forest ecosystem with their roles in establishing plant community, promoting succession of species population, retaining forest ecosystem stability and participating in the flow of energy and nutrition. The early colonization of land by plants was associated with fungi. Evidences have shown that the symbiosis between plants and fungi was established when the terrestrial life started. By co_evolution with plants, fungi are involved in the formation of the complex forest ecosystem. Mycorrhizae have apparently played an important role in the origin of terrestrial plants and they are the key to the development of forest. Mycorrhizal fungi are crucial not only to phosphorus uptake by plants, but also to other mineral nutrition. Decomposition of organic material and weathering of mine by fungi in forest contribute greatly to the biogeochemical and nutrient cycles on earth. Large biomass of fungi in forest forms important C and N sinks. Abundance and diversity of fungi in forest has significant influences on biodiversity and stability of forest community. Loss of fungal diversity may instable the forest ecosystem and, further, aggravate the greenhouse effects of the world. Enforcing research on fungal roles in forest ecology will facilitate conservation and sustainable development of forest and the forest ecological projects in China.