Scientists have found growing Armillaria, which 2500 years
This makes it one of the oldest living organisms on Earth.
About 30 years ago, biologist James Anderson of the University of Toronto discovered in the woods of Michigan a single individual of Armillaria Tolstonogov (Armillaria gallica), mushroom body, which has spread around 15 hectares. Its weight was estimated at 100 thousand pounds. Armillaria called “monstrous mushroom” and found that they are at least 1500 years.
A new study of this fungus is allowed to correct the information. Assessment of Michigan at least 2.5 thousand years. In fact, he was a contemporary of Socrates and one of the oldest living organisms on the planet.
In fact, the body of the fungus spread on 75 hectares, and its total weight is not less than 400 thousand kg, the researchers write in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
This Humongous Fungus Has Been Around Since the Birth of Socrates https://t.co/FRGHaaNMzt pic.twitter.com/tUrleHtFuA
— Live Science (@LiveScience) 19 Dec 2018
The researchers analyzed the genetic information of the fungus and found that the level of mutations at extremely low. This may be due to the fact that the mushroom is hidden under the ground and almost does not feel the effects of ultraviolet radiation.
“We think that this low mutation rate is probably the key to the genetic stability of a huge mushroom, and even can be a key reason for his long life,” said study co-author Johann Bruhn University of Missouri.
The fungus is mainly located underground and is hidden from the eyes. It decomposes the wood and get the energy uses to grow isomorphy — long, threadlike textures of mushroom threads that are needed to carry water and nutrients in the mushroom body.