Michael Davis
Mushrooms are a type of fungus, and fungi have a wide variety of reproductive strategies, ranging from fully asexual to almost exclusively sexual species. Fungi can swap any sort of genetic material, so the concept of gender is not needed. Instead, they have mating types. Some mushrooms have two mating types, while others have thousands, with one species, Schizophyllum commune, having over 23,000 different sexes. This means that mushrooms can have multiple genders, and can even be non-binary.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of sexes | 23,000-36,000 |
| Mating types | Bipolar or tetrapolar |
| Sexual reproduction | Homothallism or heterothallism |
| Sexual reproduction | Asexual or sexual |
| Sexual reproduction | Self-fertile or self-sterile |
| Compatibility | Must mate with a different type |
| Pregnancy | Either partner can get pregnant |
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What You'll Learn
Fungi have different mating types
Fungi are a diverse group of organisms that employ a wide variety of reproductive strategies, ranging from fully asexual to almost exclusively sexual species. Most species can reproduce both sexually and asexually, and mating in fungi is a complex process governed by mating types.
There are two main types of sexual reproduction in fungi: homothallism and heterothallism. Homothallism is when mating occurs within a single individual, meaning that each individual is self-fertile. Heterothallism, on the other hand, is when hyphae from a single individual are self-sterile and need to interact with another compatible individual for mating to take place. Heterothallism is the most common mating system in Basidiomycota, and in Agaricomycotina (the mushroom-forming fungi), about 90% of species are heterothallic.
Within these two main types of sexual reproduction, fungi can have different mating systems, such as tetrapolar and bipolar. Tetrapolar mating systems are ruled by two unlinked mating loci, termed A and B (or b and a), both of which can be multiallelic. Bipolar mating systems, on the other hand, are ruled by a single allelic mating locus, termed either A or b.
Some specific examples of fungal mating types include the bipolar species Phanerochaete chrysosporium and Pholiota nameko, as well as the tetrapolar species Coprinopsis cinerea, Schizophyllum commune, Pleurotus djamor, and Laccaria bicolor. Schizophyllum commune, in particular, has been found to have more than 23,000 different sexes, showcasing the vast number of mating types that can exist in fungi.
The diversity in mating types among fungi highlights the complexity of their reproductive strategies and the need to ensure mating between genetically diverse individuals. This complexity in mating types also contributes to the improved odds of an individual fungus finding a suitable mate, as the concept of gender is not a limiting factor.
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Fungi have multiple genders
Fungi are a diverse group of organisms that employ a wide range of reproductive strategies, ranging from fully asexual to almost exclusively sexual species. Fungi can swap any sort of genetic material, so the concept of gender is not needed. Instead, the term mating types is used. Most species can reproduce both sexually and asexually, alternating between haploid and diploid forms. This contrasts with most multicellular eukaryotes, such as mammals, where adults are usually diploid and produce haploid gametes that combine to form the next generation. In fungi, both haploid and diploid forms can reproduce. Haploid individuals can undergo asexual reproduction, while diploid forms can produce gametes that combine to give rise to the next generation.
Mating in fungi is a complex process governed by mating types. Research on fungal mating has focused on several model species with different behaviours. Not all fungi reproduce sexually, and many that do are isogamous; thus, for many members of the fungal kingdom, the terms "male" and "female" do not apply. However, some species of fungi exhibit gender diversity in their reproductive habits. For example, the mushroom Schizophyllum commune, a common species, has been reported to have anywhere between 23,000 and 28,000 different sexes. This diversity results from widespread differentiation in the genetic locations that govern its sexual behaviour.
The "sexes" of Schizophyllum commune do not involve physical differences as we might typically associate with the word "sex". Instead, the variations are all in the genome, at two separate loci or locations, each of which has two alleles or alternate forms. The loci are called A and B, and the alleles are termed "alpha" and "beta". This results in four possible sexes, but there is a twist. Every A-alpha/beta and B-alpha/beta can have many different variants, called specificities. When combined, this yields thousands of possible unique sexes. The fungus can mate with any specificity as long as it is different somewhere on both A and B.
In addition to Schizophyllum commune, other mushroom species also exhibit multiple mating types. For example, Coprinopsis cinerea, Pleurotus djamor, and Laccaria bicolor are mushrooms with tetrapolar mating systems, which are ruled by two unlinked mating loci. These species have a high chance of encountering a compatible partner in nature due to the large number of mating types generated by their systems. Agaricomycotina, the mushroom-forming fungi, are mostly heterothallic, meaning that hyphae from a single individual are self-sterile and need to interact with another compatible individual for mating to take place.
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Fungi have a complex mating process
Fungi are a diverse group of organisms that employ a wide range of reproductive strategies, ranging from fully asexual to almost exclusively sexual species. Most species can reproduce both sexually and asexually, and both haploid and diploid forms can reproduce. Fungi have a complex mating process, with some species having more than 20,000 sexes. The number of mating types depends on the number of genes and the number of alleles for each.
There are two main types of sexual reproduction in fungi: homothallism and heterothallism. Homothallism occurs when mating occurs within a single individual, meaning that each individual is self-fertile. Heterothallism, on the other hand, involves hyphae from a single individual that are self-sterile and need to interact with another compatible individual for mating to take place. Heterothallism is the most common mating system in Basidiomycota and Agaricomycotina (mushroom-forming fungi), with about 90% of species being heterothallic.
The mating process in fungi is governed by mating types, which are determined by mating-type genes located in homeoboxes. These genes encode enzymes for the production of pheromones and pheromone receptors. Sexual reproduction depends on pheromones produced from variant alleles of the same gene. As a haploid sac fungus approaches a mate, it develops one of two complementary organs: a "female" ascogonium or a "male" antheridium. These organs allow for the transfer of nuclei from the antheridium to the ascogonium through a bridge called a trichogyne.
Some species within Basidiomycota have particularly complex systems of sexual reproduction. For example, the mushroom Schizophyllum commune has more than 23,000 mating types, with over 339 A mating types and 64 B mating types. This high number of mating types increases the chances of encountering a compatible partner in nature. Bipolar mating systems, on the other hand, are ruled by a single allelic mating locus, termed either A or b.
In summary, fungi have a complex mating process that involves a variety of reproductive strategies and a large number of mating types. The process is governed by mating types and involves the production of pheromones and pheromone receptors, as well as the transfer of nuclei between compatible individuals.
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Fungi have a variety of reproductive strategies
Fungi are a diverse group of organisms that employ a wide range of reproductive strategies. Some fungi reproduce sexually, some reproduce asexually, and some can do both. The majority of fungi reproduce asexually by forming spores, which can be achieved through fragmentation, fission, and budding. Fungi that reproduce asexually do not require a genetic contribution from another individual, instead forming a genetic duplicate of the progenitor.
Some fungi reproduce sexually, which is an important source of genetic variability. Sexual reproduction in fungi involves the fusion of two nuclei, brought together when two sex cells (gametes) unite. Fungi employ a variety of methods to bring together two compatible haploid nuclei, including the use of specialised sex cells (gametes) released from differentiated sex organs (gametangia). In some fungi, the gametangia fuse directly, bypassing the need for gametes. Some fungi lack differentiated sex organs altogether, and instead, their sexual function is carried out by somatic hyphae, which unite and bring together compatible nuclei in preparation for fusion.
Fungi can also be categorised by their mating systems, which are either homothallic or heterothallic. Homothallic fungi are self-fertile, meaning mating occurs within a single individual. Heterothallic fungi, on the other hand, require interaction with another compatible individual for mating to take place. Heterothallism is the most common mating system in Basidiomycota and Agaricomycotina (mushroom-forming fungi).
Furthermore, fungi can have multiple mating types, with some species having thousands of mating types. For example, the mushroom Schizophyllum commune has more than 23,000 different sexes. This high number of mating types improves the odds of an individual finding a mate. During mating, either partner can get pregnant or be a father, as both roles involve producing a mushroom or offering a gamete, respectively.
Fungi have also developed unique strategies to manage their multiple mating types. For instance, mushrooms never allow the two sets of mitochondria to come into the same cell space to compete. Instead, they utilise a "Berlin Wall" strategy, where harmful mitochondrial mutations are restricted to the parent carrying them, preventing the spread through the population.
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Fungi have different sexual preferences
Fungi are a diverse group of organisms that employ a wide range of reproductive strategies, ranging from fully asexual to almost exclusively sexual species. Most species can reproduce both sexually and asexually, and the concept of gender is not needed as they can swap any sort of genetic material. However, mating in fungi is a complex process governed by mating types.
Other mushrooms, such as Coprinopsis cinerea, Schizophyllum commune, Pleurotus djamor, and Laccaria bicolor, are tetrapolar organisms, meaning they have two unlinked mating types, termed A and B, both of which can be multiallelic. This means they have a high chance of encountering a compatible partner in nature due to the large number of mating types generated by these systems.
Some fungi are bipolar, with two mating types, such as the white rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium and the edible mushroom Pholiota nameko. In these fungi, the B or a locus has linked genes that code for pheromones and pheromone receptors.
In summary, fungi have a diverse range of sexual preferences and mating types, with some species having thousands or even tens of thousands of sexes. This complexity in sexual preferences and mating types helps spread genetic diversity and improves the odds of an individual finding a mate.
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Frequently asked questions
The concept of gender does not apply to mushrooms as they do not have physical sexual characteristics. Mushrooms have mating types, with some having two and others having thousands.
Mushrooms reproduce through mating, which involves a clamp connection that allows their nuclei to pass from one cell to another.
Mushrooms do not have genders as they do not have physical sexual characteristics. Instead, they have mating types, which are determined by the genetic locations that govern their sexual behavior.
