The fungus of the species Amanita phalloides, also known as the death cap mushroom, is considered the world’s deadliest and is implicated in a new discovery: it can reproduce asexually without the need to mix genetic material.
It is even believed that this fungus was responsible for the deaths of two Roman emperors: Claudius in AD 54 and Charles VI. in 1740.
What is known about Amanita phalloides?
- Species of mushrooms that originated in Europe but have spread throughout North America.
- It can be 3 to 15 cm in diameter and is not uniformly yellowishgreen in colour.
- Its main toxic component is alphaamanitin, which causes liver and kidney failure.
- Cooking does not inactivate its toxin.
- It is estimated that just half a mushroom of this species contains enough venom to kill an adult human.
According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), the main federal health agency in the United States, the time from the first symptoms to possible death after ingestion of the species is seven to 10 days in severe cases.
The first symptoms are: abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea and dehydration. The picture can lead to low blood pressure, liver and kidney failure, seizures, delirium, hemorrhage and even coma. An organ transplant may be necessary to prevent death.
According to Digital Journal, recent research indicates that Amanita phalloides has found a new way to reproduce: alone. The study in question, published on bioRxiv by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, states that the Death Hat appeared to be capable of reproducing both sexually and asexually, and this would aid in its reproduction.
The Death Hat’s diverse reproductive strategies likely facilitate its rapid spread, revealing a profound similarity between plant, animal, and fungal invasions.
Excerpt from article signed by YenWen Wang, Megan C. McKeon, Holly Elmore, Jaqueline Hess, Jacob Golan, Hunter Gage, William Mao, Lynn Harrow, Susana C. Gonçalves, Christina M. Hull and Anne Pringle