Diversity of free-living and lichenized fungal communities in biological soil crusts of the Sultanate of Oman and their role in improving soil properties

► Fungal diversity in desert crusts is greater than previously anticipated. ► Fungi in crusts form Oman were dominated, like in other crusts, by Ascomycota. ► Pyrosequencing was used for the first time here to study fungi in desert crusts. ► Pyrosequencing provided a different picture of diversity than by cultivation. ► Lichens in crusts played a vital role in improving soil stability and hydrology.