The "Fruit King" Encounter: Rare Splitgill Mushrooms Grow on an Apple in Deqing, Zhejiang, Leading Researchers to Seek It Out

The "Fruit King" Encounter: Rare Splitgill Mushrooms Grow on an Apple in Deqing, Zhejiang, Leading Researchers to Seek It OutIn the home of Ms. Deng in Deqing, Zhejiang, a white mushroom sprouted from an apple that had been sitting for months

The "Fruit King" Encounter: Rare Splitgill Mushrooms Grow on an Apple in Deqing, Zhejiang, Leading Researchers to Seek It Out

In the home of Ms. Deng in Deqing, Zhejiang, a white mushroom sprouted from an apple that had been sitting for months. Dubbed the "Fruit King" by netizens, this unusual mushroom attracted considerable attention, even prompting researchers to travel great distances to purchase it. What kind of magical mushroom is this, and why did it choose an apple to grow on?

The story begins last month. Zhejiang had been experiencing days of continuous rain, and the air was heavy with moisture. Ms. Deng was about to leave for work when she noticed a "white fuzz" growing on an apple in her home. Thinking she'd deal with it later, she quickly left for work, but in her busyness, she forgot about the apple. Two days later, Ms. Deng finally remembered the "fuzzy" apple, and upon picking it up, she was startled to see a snowy white mushroom emerging from the stem in the middle of the apple.

"The mushroom was quite beautiful, like a little fan, with wavy patterns," Ms. Deng recalled. For a while, she couldn't bear to throw away the apple with its "high-value" mushroom and placed it on the kitchen windowsill. As the kitchen had more light, the "Fruit King" began to appear slightly wilted after a few days. But to Ms. Deng's astonishment, after simply spraying some water on the mushroom, this tenacious mushroom soon sprung back to life. After this ordeal, the mushroom's color had also turned slightly more yellow.

Ms. Deng shared this strange occurrence online, and it was this unintentional act that set in motion the gears of the "Fruit King's" fate. On the evening of July 6th, Ms. Deng received a private message on social media from a research team from the Fungal Diversity and Molecular Evolution Group at the Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences. The researchers expressed their desire to purchase the apple with the mushroom.

"The apple isn't much use to me, so it's better to give it to the researchers for their research. It might still be of value," said Ms. Deng. She didn't ask for any money and sent the apple to Kunming the next day.

The "Fruit King's" Identity Revealed: The Famous Edible Mushroom - Splitgill

Dr. Xu, who received the apple, told reporters that the fungus growing on the apple is called Splitgill, often known as white ginseng. It's a well-known edible mushroom.

"Splitgill is a wood-decay fungus. It loves to grow in places like rotting wood, park handrails, wooden floors, but it's uncommon to find it growing on fresh fruit," Dr. Xu explained. He had previously seen Splitgill growing on peaches, persimmons, and coconuts, but he had never seen it on an apple in China.

Dr. Xu believes that Zhejiang had been experiencing continuous rainy weather, with high temperatures and humidity, which are ideal conditions for Splitgill growth. "It's initially thought that the Splitgill spores landed on the apple, and the apple had a wound. The spores first infected the fruit stalk, then gradually spread downwards to the core. When the temperature and humidity were suitable for Splitgill growth, the fruiting body was able to emerge from the top of the apple."

Generally, Splitgill obtains nutrients by decomposing lignin in its substrate. An environment like an apple is often insufficient to meet its growth requirements, which explains the unusual nature of Ms. Deng's Splitgill.

The Apple is Sliced for Observation, and Its DNA Will be Sequenced

After cutting open the apple, Dr. Xu promptly reported the developments to online viewers: "White ginseng (Splitgill) mycelia have completely infected the entire apple; there is a small amount of mycelia growth in the unrotten fruit part; the mycelia grow fastest in the rotten fruit part, which indicates that the main source of nutrition for white ginseng is the rotten fruit..."

So, how does the apple white ginseng taste? "I just had a bite, and it doesn't have any particular flavor," Dr. Xu's response on social media answered the curiosity of many viewers. He told reporters that it's unlikely for the white ginseng to develop an apple flavor. Its unique flavor is derived primarily from its own amino acids and certain special chemical substances. Therefore, even if it grows on the flesh of an apple, the flavor of the white ginseng is unlikely to be affected by the apple.

Currently, Dr. Xu has separated the apple with the mushroom for cultivation. He expects to begin artificial cultivation experiments in two months, producing more "Fruit Kings."

"There are approximately 11 species of Splitgill worldwide. Next, we plan to sequence the DNA of this Splitgill on the apple to determine which species it belongs to," Dr. Xu said. He believes that this strain, with its ability to thrive on minimal substrate, could provide valuable insights for future Splitgill strain selection. He plans to explore the possibility of crossbreeding with other strains to develop Splitgill strains with superior traits.

The "Fruit King" encounter not only showcases the wonders of nature but also sparks interest in the world of fungi. Dr. Xu stated that this discovery could offer new avenues for further Splitgill research and reminds us to pay more attention to our surroundings and the organisms around us, recognizing the amazing things that can be found.

From Ms. Deng's accidental discovery of the "Fruit King" to the researchers' quest to acquire it, and potentially future strain selection experiments, a small apple carries a myriad of stories. This compels us to ponder whether our seemingly ordinary daily lives may also hold undiscovered treasures waiting to be explored.

Beyond the "Fruit King" encounter, the following points are also worth noting:

• Fungal Diversity: Splitgill is just one member of the fungal world. There are countless species of fungi in nature, each playing a crucial role in the ecosystem, such as decomposing dead leaves and branches, and forming symbiotic relationships with plants.

• Fungal Applications: Beyond edible mushrooms, fungi also have applications in medicine, industry, and agriculture. For instance, some fungi can produce antibiotics, enzyme preparations, and biodegrade pollutants.

• Fungal Conservation: As the environment changes, many fungal species face threats to their survival. We need to step up efforts to conserve fungi, maintaining ecological balance.

The "Fruit King" story teaches us that even a seemingly ordinary apple can hold unlimited possibilities. We should maintain a sense of curiosity, delight in exploration, and constantly discover the wonders of nature, using them to advance human society.

Here are some keywords related to this article that can help you better understand the content:

• Splitgill

• White Ginseng

• Edible Mushroom

• Wood-decay Fungus

• Fungal Diversity

• Strain Selection

• Ecosystem

• Wonders of Nature

• Scientific Research

• Environmental Protection

Hopefully, this article has helped you better understand the "Fruit King" encounter and the incredible world of fungi.

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