Fungi Superpowers

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s … space fungi! Upon hearing the word ‘superpower’, it is understandable that your brain may conjure images less seated in reality, like your favourite graphic novel; or the latest big budget, fresh out of Hollywood blockbuster, complete with overpriced snacks the local cinema offered for your viewing pleasure. ‘Superpower’ is a word rarely used for real life, and even more rarely for the world of mushrooms and mould. Yet, in the biological kingdoms of life, fungi are considered the most populous and diverse – with an estimated 3.8 million species globally, 90% of which are still unknown to science – and, as such, it may be unsurprising that they have evolved some weird, wonderful, and occasionally a little sinister, qualities over their 1.2-1.5 billion years of existence.

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So, space fungi? I suppose that is a good a place as any to start. In 1988, astronauts on now retired Russian space station Mir, gazed out into the vastness of the vacuum before them and noticed something wasn’t quite as it should be. A haze was spreading across their view of the universe – a mould, the spores having piggybacked their way to space on the astronauts, had begun to populate the window. Astounding though this was, it was even more so when they realised that this particular mould was growing on the outside of the station. Since this discovery, studies have shown that some species of fungi and moulds can withstand radiation levels 200x that which would kill a human.

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The fungi we’re familiar with,of course, are much more likely to be found sprouting from the ground, ordecorating a tree stump. Appearance may suggest they are almost plant-like, butitruth, fungi are closer, genetically speaking, to animals. Chitin in theircell alls is also found in insect exoskeletons, octopus beaks and crustaceanshells. They ‘breathe’ in a similar way to us humans too – taking in oxygen andexpelling carbon dioxide. In fact, it would be more accurate to say we breathelike theydo – evolution brought humans into our earthly existence an estimated315,000 years ago. A blink of the eye in fungi evolution!

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While these ancient organisms aren’t genetically aligned with plant life, they do have an irrevocably close relationship with many species. For 500 million years, fungi have been helping plants to communicate – well, sort of. We haven’t quite reached an Ents from Lord of the Rings-type scenario as yet (though I personally would have no problem with this), but the interactions between hyphae (think tiny tube structures, kind of like mushroom roots) and plant roots allows woodland plants to communicate threats like pest attacks, droughts and diseases. Hyphae are considerably smaller than root hairs, and so are able to reach and make nutrients a plant wouldn’t be able to make alone. Grateful plants, in exchange, supply the fungi with carbon-rich sugars created during photosynthesis. A forest-wide social network of sorts, often referred to as the Wood Wide Web.

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Heavily involved, though they are, with supporting plant life, fungi are also there to deal with what happens next. Saprotrophic fungi can be considered as the cleaners of the planet – producing enzymes, which decompose cellulose, hemicellulose and pectin in plant cell walls, breaking down dead wood and fallen leaves. Leaves and tree trunks are not the limit of their decomposer talents. In response to an issue which has only worsened over the past century, studies have found that over 100 fungi species can break down plastic compounds, with two degrading them in as little as 140 days!

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To look at a mushroom, a cup, a bracket, a coral or any other shape the above-ground fungi chooses to take on is to only see a small part of the story. These are the fruiting bodies of the fungus – in actuality, the full organism can be much larger. The mycelium (root-like structure made up of hyphae) can stretch great distances if left to grow and spread relatively undisturbed. Should you ever visit the Oregon Forest, you will come across the world’s largest organism – Armillaria ostoyae, a species of honey fungus, covers 2,384 acres and is estimated to have, so far, lived around 2400years. That is not to say, though, that the fruiting bodies of fungi are not also impressive. Aside from many species displaying vibrant colours and fascinating shapes, they are capable of being surprisingly strong. These structures enlarge rapidly, sometimes only needing a few hours to fill with water. This hydraulic pressure pushes them straight through soil and wood so they can release spores into the air. Puffballs have been known to generate a pressure so great that they have lifted tarmac and paving slabs.

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So, let’s see: so far we have space fungi, plant communication and breaking garden paths. Where could we possibly go next? Well, some of them glow – around 110 species in fact. In some it is just the mycelium; in others just the fruiting body, but glow they do, nonetheless. Just like fireflies and luminous sea creatures, these fungi contain compounds call luciferins, creating a phenomenon known as foxfire. It is thought that glowing mushrooms, such as the bleeding fairy helmet (Mycena haematopus), found in Europe, Asia and North America, do so in order to attract insects and disperse their spores. We even have examples of bioluminescence here in the UK – for example, sulphur tufts emit a greenish glow under UV light.

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In tropical climates, things can get very interesting –rainforest fungi species have a seemingly complex relationship with, well, ants. To a leaf cutter ant, fungi are a valuable food source; to a carpenter ant, they are a parasite. In Central and South America, leaf cutters have been observed to work with Leucogaricus gongylophorus, a fungus residing around five metres underground. Going as far as to communicate the types of leaves it wants through chemical signals, the ants collect leaves for it to consume, and in return are rewarded with a food supply of mini mushrooms.

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Amazonian carpenter ants, unfortunately for them, experience a much sourer deal; the evolution of Ophiocordyceps unilateralis is the beginning of their zombie story. Once its spores have infected an ant, the fungus grows through the body to the brain, forcing the insect to leave the colony and climb nearby plants, encouraging the final stage of fungus growth. Here, the ant’s innards are consumed, a stalk erupts through its head and spores rain down on the next victim. Gruesome? Yes, perhaps, but it would seem fungi don’t subscribe to our idea of morality.

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Not satisfied with brain control, rainforest fungi are also capable of controlling the weather. In a fashion anyway. The constant and mass release of spores, in these humid environments, attract moisture when they float above the canopy, acting as nuclei for the formation of raindrops in low-lying clouds. Once enough water has collected, it falls as raindrops – 90% of which have a fungal spore at their heart.

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Ancient and diverse, and, as yet, 90% undiscovered, it would seem the vast and fascinating talents of fungi are only limited by imagination. From helping trees to talk, to bioluminescence, weather manipulation, space travel and a true story of real life zombies … we are only just starting to learn the capabilities of these organisms with which we share the planet.

Francesca Lant, Marketing and Communications Officer

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