John Miller
Mushrooms are a type of fungus that grows on wood, typically in small dense clumps or tufts. The oldest mushroom fossil ever discovered is the Crato Formation mushroom fossil, which was found in northeast Brazil. This discovery was significant because it was the first mushroom fossil to be identified from its molecular composition, rather than just the morphology of organic remains. The fossilized remains of mycelium, a network of interconnected microscopic strands, were found in rocks dating back between 715 and 810 million years ago. This discovery suggests that mushrooms may have played an important role in the evolution of life on Earth, as they were present much earlier than previously believed.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Crato Formation mushroom fossil |
| Location | Northeast Brazil |
| Size | 5 centimeters (2 inches) tall |
| Features | Gills under its cap |
| Age | 715-810 million years old |
| Researchers | Steeve Bonneville, Liane Benning |
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What You'll Learn
The oldest mushroom fossil
The Crato Formation mushroom fossil provided new insights into the evolution of mushrooms and their role in the colonization of the continental surface by plants. Using advanced molecular analysis techniques, researchers were able to identify the fossil without damaging its chemistry, a common issue with previous identification methods that relied on corrosive acid compounds. By studying the chemistry of organic remains in situ, the researchers detected traces of chitin, a tough compound found in fungal cell walls.
The fossilized remains of the Crato Formation mushroom revealed that it had gills under its cap, rather than pores or teeth, which are structures that release spores. This discovery contributed to our understanding of mushroom species and their identification. The researchers placed the mushroom in the Agaricales order and named it Gondwanagaricites magnificus.
In addition to the Crato Formation mushroom fossil, recent studies have discovered even older mushroom fossils. In 2020, a study published in Science Advances reported the identification of fossilized mycelium, a network of interconnected microscopic strands, in rocks dating between 715 and 810 million years old. These fossils provided evidence that mushrooms were present on Earth much earlier than previously believed. The discovery of these ancient fungal remains has prompted scientists to reconsider the timeline of organism evolution on our planet.
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The Crato Formation mushroom
The Crato Formation is a significant site for palaeontologists due to its undisturbed fossil accumulation. The fossils are typically found compacted and preserved in layers of limestone, with an exceptional level of preservation. This formation has revealed a diverse range of fossils, including fish, pterosaurs, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, and plants. The soft tissue remains of insects and plants, such as angiosperms or flowering plants, are particularly well-preserved.
The Crato Formation is not just a fossil site but also an economically important area. The limestones extracted from this region are used for cement manufacture and paving stones, providing both raw materials and employment opportunities for the local community. The unique flora and fauna of the Crato Formation, including its endemic bird species, further contribute to its ecological significance.
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Armillaria ostoyae, a giant fungus
Armillaria ostoyae, commonly known as honey mushrooms, are parasitic fungi that grow in the cooler regions of the northern hemisphere. They are found on host coniferous trees in the forests of British Columbia, the Pacific Northwest, and parts of Asia. Armillaria ostoyae causes Armillaria root disease, which kills swaths of conifers in many parts of the U.S. and Canada. The fungus grows along tree roots via hyphae, fine filaments that mat together and excrete digestive enzymes. It also has the unique ability to extend rhizomorphs, flat shoestring-like structures that bridge gaps between food sources and expand the fungus's perimeter.
Armillaria ostoyae is a giant fungus, with one specimen in Oregon's Malheur National Forest spanning an area of 3.5 square miles (2,200 acres; 9.1 km2) and believed to be the largest fungal colony in the world. Another specimen of Armillaria ostoyae, discovered in southwestern Washington in 1992, covered about 1,500 acres (600 hectares) or 2.5 square miles (6.5 square kilometers). In terms of weight, a 2,500-year-old specimen of Armillaria ostoyae in northern Michigan, United States, had a mass of 440 tons (4 x 10^5 kg), equivalent to 3 blue whales.
Based on its growth rate, the Armillaria ostoyae fungus in Oregon is estimated to be 2,400 years old but could be as ancient as 8,650 years, which would make it one of the oldest living organisms. The discovery of this giant fungus in 1998 sparked a debate about what constitutes an individual organism, as it is made up of a network of genetically identical cells that coordinate themselves.
Armillaria ostoyae mushrooms have wide and thin gills that radiate decurrently from the stem, leaving a white spore print. The stem retains a well-developed ring. The mycelium of Armillaria ostoyae can display bioluminescence, resulting in foxfire. Armillaria ostoyae may be confused with Mottled rot (Pholiota limonella), but can be distinguished by the presence of mycelial fans.
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Molecular analysis of ancient mushrooms
Mushrooms are a common food item in modern human diets, but they are rarely discussed in archaeological contexts. However, ancient texts mention mushrooms, and their hallucinogenic and poisonous properties are also known from ethnographic studies. Stable isotope analysis of bone collagen is one way to determine whether ancient humans consumed mushrooms. For example, Power et al. (2015) published data on bolete spores in human tooth calculus, suggesting that Upper Palaeolithic peoples ate mushrooms.
Molecular analysis techniques have been used to identify the oldest mushroom fossils. Previously, mushroom fossils were identified based on the morphology of organic remains extracted from rocks using corrosive acid compounds. However, this method damages the chemistry of organic fossils and can lead to incorrect interpretations. Instead, molecular analysis techniques such as synchrotron radiation spectroscopy (XANES, μFTIR), μ-Raman confocal microscopy, fluorescence microscopy (CLSM), and electron microscopy (FIB-TEM-HAADF) can be used to study the chemistry of organic remains in situ without chemical treatment.
Using these techniques, researchers have discovered fossilized remains of mycelium (a network of interconnected microscopic strands) in rocks between 715 and 810 million years old. These ancient rocks, found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, formed in a lagoon or coastal lake environment. The presence of fungi in this transitional area between water and land suggests that these microscopic mushrooms were important partners of the first plants that colonized the Earth's surface.
The oldest mushroom fossil ever discovered is the Crato Formation mushroom, found in northeast Brazil. This fossil was not preserved in amber, unlike other ancient mushroom fossils. It is estimated to be about 5 centimetres (2 inches) tall and has gills under its cap, which release spores. The researchers placed the mushroom in the Agaricales order and named it Gondwanagaricites magnificus.
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The evolution of mushrooms
Mushrooms are a type of fungus, and some species of fungi are among the oldest and largest living organisms on Earth. The first mushrooms are now believed to have been present on Earth between 715 and 810 million years ago, 300 million years earlier than previously thought. This discovery was made by a group of researchers led by Steeve Bonneville, using multiple molecular analysis techniques at a microscopic scale.
The oldest mushroom fossil ever discovered is the Crato Formation mushroom, found in northeast Brazil. It was placed in the Agaricales order and named Gondwanagaricites magnificus. Before this discovery, the oldest mushroom fossils had been preserved in amber in Southeast Asia and were dated to about 99 million years ago. The Crato Formation mushroom fossil is believed to be much older, although the exact age is unknown. It was about 5 centimetres (2 inches) tall and had gills under its cap, which released spores.
Some of the largest known organisms on Earth are also fungi. The largest known organism is an Armillaria ostoyae, which covers more than 3.4 square miles (8.8 square kilometres) in Oregon's Malheur National Forest. It is estimated to be 2,500 years old, although other estimates place it as old as 8,650 years. Armillaria species are often referred to as honey mushrooms due to their yellow-capped and sweet-fruiting bodies. Another massive fungus, Armillaria gallica, covers 37 acres (15 hectares) and is celebrated annually at a "fungus fest" in Crystal Falls, Michigan.
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Frequently asked questions
The oldest mushroom ever discovered is the Crato Formation mushroom fossil, which was found in northeast Brazil. It is estimated to be around 715 to 810 million years old.
The Crato Formation mushroom fossil was about 5 centimeters (2 inches) tall.
The fossil was found in the Crato Formation, which underlies a vast tableland of eroded rock in northeast Brazil.
Researchers used multiple molecular analysis techniques at a microscopic scale, including synchrotron radiation spectroscopy and electron microscopy, to identify the fossil without damaging it.
Yes, the next oldest mushroom fossils were found in amber in Southeast Asia and are estimated to be about 99 million years old. Additionally, a giant Armillaria ostoyae fungus in Oregon's Blue Mountains is estimated to be 2,400 years old, with a potential upper limit of 8,650 years.
