Mariia Zerova (1902–1994) was a mycologist and Doctor of Biological Sciences who fundamentally reshaped how fungi were understood in Ukraine. Thanks to her research, the list of edible mushrooms expanded from just a few dozen to nearly one hundred species.

She studied a wide range of fungi—from parasitic species to edible and medicinal ones. Zerova discovered and described dozens of species previously unknown to science, four of which were later named in her honor. In the course of her mycological work, she examined around 160 plant species and identified more than 400 species of fungi, many of which she described for the first time. Among her discoveries were the steppe morel (Morchella steppicola), found in the Ukrainian steppes, and Tricholomella constricta—an edible mushroom that grows on coniferous trees.

Mariia Zerova also took part in research on the artificial cultivation of edible mushrooms, which made it possible to use fungal resources much more broadly in Ukraine. While previously only 12 edible mushroom species were considered safe, she proposed a list of nearly 100.

In addition, Zerova was the first scientist in Ukraine to begin systematic research on medicinal mushrooms, laying the groundwork for future studies in this field. She combined fundamental science with practical application—and it is this approach that made her contribution important not only for science but for everyday life as well.

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