Emily Johnson
Mushrooms are the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting bodies of fungi, typically produced above ground on soil or another food source. They are neither plants nor animals, but they are more closely related to the latter. Unlike plants, mushrooms cannot generate their own food through photosynthesis and rely on external food sources for energy. Mushrooms grow from fungal spores that thrive in damp, dark conditions. They often spring directly from dead trees and are short-lived, but the underlying mycelium can be long-lived and massive.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Life cycle | Most of a mushroom's life cycle takes place underground or beneath the bark of dead or living trees. |
| Development | Mushrooms develop from a nodule, or pinhead, called a primordium, which is formed within the mycelium, the mass of thread-like hyphae that make up the fungus. |
| Structure | Mushrooms are the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting bodies of fungi, typically produced above ground on soil or another food source. |
| Spores | Mushrooms produce spores, which are microscopic and help the fungus spread across the ground or its occupant surface. |
| Growth | Mushrooms grow from fungal spores that thrive in damp, dark conditions with decaying plant matter. |
| Nutrition | Mushrooms cannot generate their own food through photosynthesis and rely on external food sources for energy. They decompose organic matter and absorb the nutrients that are released during this process. |
| Uses | Mushrooms are a source of food and medicine for humans. |
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What You'll Learn
Mushrooms are the fruiting bodies of fungi
Mushrooms are the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting bodies of fungi. They are typically produced above ground on soil or another food source. The standard for the name "mushroom" is the cultivated white button mushroom, Agaricus bisporus. The term "mushroom" is most often applied to those fungi (Basidiomycota, Agaricomycetes) that have a stem (stipe), a cap (pileus), and gills (lamellae, sing. lamella) on the underside of the cap.
Mushrooms develop from a nodule, or pinhead, called a primordium, which is typically found on or near the surface of the substrate. It is formed within the mycelium, the mass of thread-like hyphae that make up the fungus. The primordium enlarges into a roundish structure of interwoven hyphae, called a "button". The button has a cottony roll of mycelium, the universal veil, that surrounds the developing fruit body. As the egg expands, the universal veil ruptures and may remain as a cup, or volva, at the base of the stalk, or as warts or volval patches on the cap.
Fungi are best known for their fruiting bodies, mushrooms, but most of their structure is hidden underground in a network of microscopic threads. These fibres play a significant role in the earth's ecosystems. They break down organic materials into fertile soil, help plants share nutrients, and communicate through chemical signals. They also provide important sources of food and medicine.
Mushrooms grow from fungal spores that thrive in damp, dark conditions. They require a medium that is high in decaying plant matter. They often spring directly from dead trees. Mushrooms produce spores, which are spread by wind and animals. If the growing conditions are right, the spores develop into fungi.
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Mushrooms grow from spores
Mushrooms are the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting bodies of fungi. They typically grow above ground on soil or another food source. Before developing the mushroom structure, the fungus lives as a mycelium, a net-like network of filaments infusing a patch of soil or wood. The mycelium develops a fruiting structure, a mushroom, which emerges from the ground or a tree. Mushrooms produce spores, which are almost as fine as smoke, instead of seeds.
When spores land in a suitable place, they germinate and develop the filaments that become a new mycelium. Mushrooms do not last very long. Once they have shed their spores, they collapse and deteriorate. The spores are produced on the gills and fall in a fine powder from under the caps. The colour of the powder, called a spore print, is useful for classifying and identifying mushrooms. Spore print colours include white, brown, black, purple-brown, pink, yellow, and creamy, but almost never blue, green, or red.
In the Ascomycota, spores develop within microscopic sac-like cells called asci, which contain eight spores each. The Discomycetes, which contain the cup, sponge, brain, and some club-like fungi, develop an exposed layer of asci. The Pyrenomycetes, tiny dark-colored fungi that live on substrates including soil, dung, leaf litter, decaying wood, and other fungi, produce minute, flask-shaped structures called perithecia, within which the asci develop. In the basidiomycetes, usually four spores develop on the tips of thin projections called sterigmata, which extend from club-shaped cells called a basidia.
To grow mushrooms from spores, a substrate that provides the right mix of nutrients is required. The substrate should include sugar, starch, lignin, fats, protein, and nitrogen. The simplest option is to buy a growing kit, which will provide the substrate and spores, as well as instructions. The most common substrate for home-growing is compost, which should be filled in a plastic tray and distributed with spores on top. The compost should be kept at a temperature of around 23°C/73°F for the first few weeks. Once the surface is covered with the mycelium, it should be uncovered, wetted, and covered with another layer called the casing.
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Mushrooms are not plants
Mushrooms are the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting bodies of fungi. They are not plants. Fungi have historically been grouped with plants, but this is inaccurate. Fungi are more closely related to animals than plants.
Fungi and plants have different common ancestors, and how organisms look or behave is not relevant to their classification. Fungi and plants are considered different kingdoms. Fungi, unlike plants, respire like animals, requiring oxygen to thrive and expelling carbon. Plants, on the other hand, take in carbon and expel oxygen.
Fungi also have unique characteristics, such as their ability to form a symbiotic relationship with the roots of plants, helping them absorb water and minerals, while the plants provide nutrients for the fungi. Many plants, such as trees and orchids, cannot live without these fungal partners.
Additionally, the short-lived mushroom structure is just a part of the entire fungus organism. The underlying mycelium, a network of filaments infusing soil or wood, can be long-lived and massive. A colony of Armillaria solidipes, for example, is estimated to be 2,400 years old and spans 2,200 acres.
The misclassification of fungi as plants has had an impact on how we understand and engage with mushrooms and other fungi.
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Mushrooms are nutritious
Mushrooms are a nutrient-dense food with a variety of health benefits. They are low in calories, fat, and sodium, and are a good source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. For example, they contain vitamin B6, which helps the body form red blood cells, proteins, and DNA, and vitamin D, which helps the body absorb calcium for strong bones. They are also a good source of potassium, which can help to reduce blood pressure and lessen the negative impact of sodium on the body.
In addition to their nutritional benefits, mushrooms are a good source of dietary fiber, which can help to improve insulin resistance and GI health. They also contain polysaccharides, which stimulate the growth of healthy bacteria in the gut and suppress harmful bacteria. Furthermore, mushrooms are a rich source of two powerful antioxidants, glutathione and ergothioneine, which help to protect cells from damage and support immune function. Ergothioneine, in particular, has been linked to a reduced risk of chronic diseases associated with aging, leading some researchers to refer to it as the "longevity nutrient".
The nutritional content of mushrooms makes them a healthy substitute for meat in many dishes. They have a savory, umami flavor that can enhance the taste of meals without adding significant amounts of fat, calories, or sodium. For example, research has shown that swapping half of the meat in a traditional ground beef recipe for mushrooms can maintain flavor while reducing sodium intake by up to 25%. Mushrooms are also a good source of protein and can help to reduce the risk of developing serious health conditions such as Alzheimer's, heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.
While the average American consumes approximately three pounds of mushrooms per year, it is important to note that not all mushrooms are safe to eat. Some varieties are poisonous and can be deadly if consumed. It is always important to properly identify mushrooms before consuming them and to purchase them from a reputable source rather than foraging for them in the wild.
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Mushrooms are used in medicine
The medicinal properties of mushrooms are likely due to their relationship with microbes. The chemicals that fungi produce to flourish in the wild are also active in humans. For example, phytochemicals in mushrooms have demonstrated anti-invasive, antimetastatic, and antiangiogenic activities in cell culture and animal experiments. Different mushroom components also modulate the immune system, resulting in the secretion of cytokines and stimulation of natural killer cells, which are responsible for their anticancer activities.
Medicinal mushrooms have been used to treat many different age-related diseases. Evidence suggests that they can extend lifespans in multiple model organisms. They are also being investigated for their antidiabetic potential.
Psilocybin, or 'magic mushrooms', is a psychedelic that has been used by some Indigenous communities for over 1000 years. It is being studied for its therapeutic benefits in treating depression, PTSD, and nicotine and alcohol dependence. However, psilocybin may worsen the symptoms of certain conditions like personality disorders and schizophrenia, and it carries a risk of being confused with poisonous mushrooms.
Overall, mushrooms have a wide range of medicinal properties that are being increasingly recognized and studied by modern science.
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Frequently asked questions
Mushrooms are the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting bodies of fungi, typically produced above ground on soil or another food source.
Mushrooms grow from fungal spores that thrive in damp, dark conditions. They require a medium that is high in decaying plant matter. They often spring directly from dead trees.
No, mushrooms do not need sunlight. They rely on external food sources for energy.
The mushroom fruiting bodies are short-lived, but the underlying mycelium can be long-lived. The lifespan of the mycelium depends on the available food supply.
