Discovery of Dianjunus rex fungus in China

Scientists have identified a new species of giant fungus, named Dianjunus rex (or ‘D-rex’), in the forests of Yunnan Province, China. The organism is characterized by whitish, club-like fruiting bodies, known as stromata, which can reach heights of 50 centimeters and weigh up to 2.2 kilograms.

Research published in Frontiers in Fungal Biology indicates that the discovery is significant as it represents both a new genus and an entirely new fungal family, Dianjunaceae. Dianjunus rex is noted as the largest known species within the phylum Ascomycota. The name ‘Dianjunus’ refers to the ancient Dian Kingdom, while ‘rex’ denotes its imposing size.

Researchers from the Kunming Institute of Botany found specimens growing on the woody roots of Chinese cork oak across temperate coniferous forests and tropical rainforests. Molecular and DNA analysis suggests the Dianjunaceae family may have emerged approximately 65 million years ago, shortly after the Cretaceous-Paleogene mass extinction. Scientists believe the abundance of dead plant matter following that extinction event may have created ecological niches that allowed such wood-decaying fungi to thrive. Indunil C. Senanayake of the Chinese Academy of Sciences noted that the species provides a rare look into the evolution of extreme fungal body forms and underscores the undiscovered biodiversity in East Asian forests.