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myEppendorf
The Mushroom Miracle
Explore Life Science
They can be poisonous or delicious. Only a small part is visible above the ground; their expansive network of “roots” which permeates the soil makes up the vast majority of these organisms. Fungi can contain healing substances, and they form the basis of many sustainable technologies.
Fungi are neither plants nor animals; in fact, they comprise their own kingdom. They do not require sunlight; instead, they permeate the ground, wood and other organic matter in their search for nutrients originating from living as well as dead organisms.
Roughly 120,000 species of fungi are currently scientifically cataloged, whereas a vast majority are still unknown: researchers estimate a possible five billion species. Some species baffle the observer with superlatives – for example, the honey mushroom in the Malheur National Forest in Oregon is the largest living organism on Earth.
The network of this fungus inhabits approximately nine square kilometers – the equivalent of 1,200 soccer fields. Biologists estimate this giant mushroom to be up to 8,500 years old and weigh 400,000 kilograms. The largest fruiting body of any mushroom visible above ground was found 12 years ago in China. The Phellinus fungus was almost eleven meters long and weighed 400 kilograms.
Fungi are extremely well networked. There are up to six tons of fungal hyphae in one hectare of forest soil which can add up to an incredible 100 billion kilometers. In comparison, the Moon orbits Earth at a distance of only 380,000 kilometers. A single tree can have a network of up to 100 species of fungus. The ability of these recycling specialists to metabolize waste has caught the attention of science as well as industry. Some experts see a great potential for sustainable innovation. Here, we present four of the many useful characteristics of fungi:
Roughly 120,000 species of fungi are currently scientifically cataloged, whereas a vast majority are still unknown: researchers estimate a possible five billion species. Some species baffle the observer with superlatives – for example, the honey mushroom in the Malheur National Forest in Oregon is the largest living organism on Earth.
The network of this fungus inhabits approximately nine square kilometers – the equivalent of 1,200 soccer fields. Biologists estimate this giant mushroom to be up to 8,500 years old and weigh 400,000 kilograms. The largest fruiting body of any mushroom visible above ground was found 12 years ago in China. The Phellinus fungus was almost eleven meters long and weighed 400 kilograms.
Fungi are extremely well networked. There are up to six tons of fungal hyphae in one hectare of forest soil which can add up to an incredible 100 billion kilometers. In comparison, the Moon orbits Earth at a distance of only 380,000 kilometers. A single tree can have a network of up to 100 species of fungus. The ability of these recycling specialists to metabolize waste has caught the attention of science as well as industry. Some experts see a great potential for sustainable innovation. Here, we present four of the many useful characteristics of fungi: