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Fungus Smuggling:  

Research or Agroterrorism? 

Abstract 

In the increasingly volatile geopolitical landscape the world has become, dangers to nations and the security of the modern way of life now exist in many forms. From economic fluctuations to cybersecurity attacks, even potential biohazards, methods of jeopardizing the United States are diverse and challenging to anticipate. The most recent potential risk is one that threatens neither the government nor its people, but the agricultural system that sustains a modern population and economy.  

Introduction 

On July 27, 2024, a 34-year-old man by the name of Zunyong Liu was detained at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport for possessing several samples of fungus. Specifically, he was carrying within his backpack several crumpled tissues containing, “a note in Chinese, a round piece of filter paper with a series of circles drawn on it, and four clear plastic baggies with small clumps of reddish plant material inside,” samples which would turn out to be the fungal plant pathogen known as Fusarium graminearum. The man is a researcher at a Chinese university and specializes in plant fungal interactions who flew into the United States allegedly for the sole purpose of visiting his girlfriend, another fungal researcher who works in the U.S.  

Recently, Yunqing Jian, Liu’s girlfriend and a 33-year-old Chinese researcher working at the University of Michigan was arrested in connection with the smuggling of the fungal pathogen. Liu claims to have intended to travel with the fungus from his laboratory in China to his girlfriend’s laboratory at the University of Michigan in order to continue their research. Neither of the Chinese nationals, nor the university were licensed by the USDA to import the potentially dangerous fungus. As such, currently both of the researchers are being charged with smuggling and conspiracy.  

Regardless of motive, whether the benign mishandling of research materials, or a deliberate attempt to compromise the United States agricultural ecosystem, the smuggled fusarium graminearum poses a significant hazard. 

Zunyong Liu 

Zunyong Liu initially attempted to travel to the United States carrying the dangerous fungus within his backpack along with research notes. Though he initially denied any knowledge, he did ultimately admit to deliberately placing them in his bag. At the time he was not arrested at the time but instead sent back to China. It is important to note that he initially claimed not to have anything related to his work on his person. Some sources allege that after a further look into Liu’s files and electronic information, he was carrying a document with a title relating to usage of fungus as a biological weapon, though this is thus far unconfirmed.  

Regardless, the researcher was aware of the danger that illegally smuggling the substance into the United States posed. The USDA requires a permit for the importation of fusarium graminearum. According to the USDA’s records, the Chinese researcher never applied for, nor were issued, a permit to import the pathogen into the country. As Zunyong Liu remains in China, following the denial of his entry, and considering the United States does not have extradition rights in China, his arrest is highly unlikely unless he were to return to the country. 

Figure 3: Alleged Suspects (Fox News) 

Yunqing Jian 

Yunqing Jian, formerly researching fungal plant interactions from a laboratory at the University of Michigan, has now been arrested in a federal case against her and her boyfriend as a result of the attempted smuggling of controlled and dangerous biological material. Jian appeared in court and is in jail awaiting a bond hearing.  

Despite the smuggling of fusarium graminearum mid-2024, there is evidence to suggest that Jian was already cultivating samples of the fungus at the university campus laboratory, despite a lack of federal permits for the material. According to the indictment allegations from the Justice Department, Yunqing Jian’s had contained within her electronic devices, information which described her membership in and loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party. Additionally, while the university laboratory at which she worked was not funded by the CCP, Jian herself has financial backing by the Chinese Communist Party. 

The University of Michigan denies responsibility for the actions of Yunqing Jian and has publicly denounced her actions for endangering agricultural safety. Additionally, the university does not acknowledge receiving any funding from by the Chinese Communist Party. 

The Fungus 

Fusarium graminearum is a type of fungal plant pathogen which causes “head blight,” a disease of wheat, barley, corn, and rice; and is considered to be a potential agroterrorism weapon in certain academic literature. If tainted crops are ingested, toxins can cause vomiting, liver damage and reproductive defects in humans and livestock, thus affected crops must be safely disposed. Even naturally occurring cases of the fungus affecting crops leads to nearly a billion dollars’ worth of damages annually, thus the prospect of an engineered, targeted attack at American agriculture could be catastrophic.  

Figure 4: Fungal Samples (Science Direct.com) 

Fusarium graminearum also thrives in warm, wet conditions, such as certain regions of the United States in the summer, and spreads through airborne spores infecting crops during flowering. It has a complex life cycle that includes both sexual and asexual reproduction, allowing it to adapt quickly to different environments. One of the challenges in controlling the fungus is its resistance to certain treatments, including fungicides, which makes it difficult to manage. To control the disease, farmers use a combination of resistant crop varieties, crop rotation, fungicides, and careful monitoring of weather conditions.