Researchers have identified Dianjunus rex, a massive new fungus species in Yunnan province that may belong to an entirely new fungal family.
Researchers have discovered a new species of giant fungus in the forests of Yunnan province, southwestern China. The organism, named Dianjunus rex and nicknamed "D-rex," was identified during surveys of forest environments in the region.
According to ScienceDaily, researchers from the Kunming Institute of Botany encountered unusual whitish structures growing from the woody roots of Chinese cork oak trees. These structures, known as stromata, are reproductive formations that produce spores.
According to ScienceDaily, the mushrooms can reach approximately 50 centimeters in height and weigh up to 2.2 kilograms. These dimensions make them the largest known fruiting bodies among fungi belonging to the phylum Ascomycota, also known as "sac fungi."
Indunil Chinthani Senanayake, a mycologist at the Kunming Institute of Botany, stated that local farmers tipped off researchers to the unusual fungus. Some of the farmers who made the discovery took a bite of the fungus to confirm whether it was edible, according to Senanayake.
Laboratory investigations involving physical examination, spore cultivation, and DNA analysis established that the organism belongs to an entirely new genus and family, Dianjunaceae. ScienceDaily reports that D. rex belongs to the order Xylariales, a group known for producing specialized compounds and enzymes that help break down complex plant material.
Researchers believe the fungus may obtain nutrients by decomposing dead wood. Using molecular-clock analysis, the team estimated that the Dianjunaceae lineage originated approximately 65 million years ago. This timeline places the emergence of the family in the aftermath of the Cretaceous-Paleogene mass extinction that wiped out non-avian dinosaurs.
"During the dark, cold, postimpact years after the mass extinction, fungi that decompose dead organic matter could keep functioning better than light-dependent photosynthesizers," Senanayake said.
Torda Varga, a mycologist at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, noted that while some truffle species can reach significant bulk, D. rex appears to be the largest sac fungal fruiting body he is aware of. Varga stated, "What I find particularly remarkable is that a fungus with such an enormous fruiting body appears to have remained scientifically undocumented until now."
Scientists are still investigating the reasons for the fungus's large size. One possibility is that the height improves spore dispersal by allowing spores to catch air currents above forest debris, according to ScienceDaily.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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