Laura Smith
Mushrooms are a type of fungus that reproduces by releasing spores into the environment. This process, known as spore discharge or spore release, is crucial for the continuation of mushroom species. When spores are released from a mushroom, they travel along wind currents and germinate when they land in a moist place. While the exact mechanism of spore release in mushrooms is not completely understood, it is believed that the shape of mushrooms may enhance spore release by interrupting airflow and reducing airspeed beneath the cap, protecting falling spores from being blown back onto the gills. Additionally, the evaporation of water from mushrooms can create local airflow patterns that aid in spore dispersal. Some mushrooms, such as puffballs, release spores when jostled or squeezed, creating a cloud of spores. The act of stepping on a mushroom may cause a similar release of spores, contributing to their dispersal and reproductive strategy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What happens when you step on a mushroom? | It is unclear whether stepping on a mushroom will release spores. However, it is known that mushrooms release spores when touched, squeezed, or jostled. Some mushrooms, such as puffballs, release spores when they are mature and disturbed, while others, like the Shaggy Inkcap, release spores as their caps dissolve into an inky mess. |
| How do mushrooms release spores? | Mushrooms release spores through a process called spore discharge (SD). This occurs when spores are discharged from the basidia, which develop on the fertile hymenial surfaces of the fruit body at high speed. The shape of mushrooms may also enhance spore release by interrupting airflow and reducing airspeed to protect falling spores. Additionally, evaporation of water from mushrooms creates airflow patterns that sweep spores away from the fruit body. |
| What is the purpose of spore release? | Spore release is crucial for the continuation of mushroom species. The spores are reproductive cells that give rise to new generations of fungi. |
| What happens after spores are released? | Spore dispersal is a two-step process. After spores are discharged, they disperse away from the parent mushroom with the help of wind currents. When spores land in a moist place, they germinate and grow into new mushrooms. |
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What You'll Learn
Mushrooms release spores from their gills
Mushrooms have evolved to develop gills to increase the surface area for spore production. The formation of gills increases the hymenium surface by a factor of 7.0 in Russula citrina (Russulales) and 20.0 in Agaricus campestris (Agaricales). Gills are oriented vertically, and spores are exposed to the atmosphere between the gills. The vertical orientation of the gills is critical to maximising the number of spores that get beyond the confines of the cap.
The gills also respond to gravity, but in the opposite way to the stem. If the cap orientation is not quite right, the developing gills can make corrections to ensure their proper orientation. In most mushroom species, there are strong developmental controls aimed at ensuring vertical gill orientation.
The spores are released from the gills through a mechanism called the surface tension catapult. Buller (1924) illustrated this by slicing the pileus of a mushroom vertically to show its gills in transverse section. The spores are propelled horizontally from the gill surface. This mechanism was not understood until the 1990s when it was solved by John Webster and colleagues.
Not all spores are released from gills. For example, the puffball pumps out whiffs of spores when jostled or squeezed.
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Spore discharge is influenced by environmental factors
Spore discharge is the process through which spores are released from the hymenium of mature fruiting bodies of mushrooms, which is crucial for the continuation of mushroom species. This process is influenced by environmental factors and significantly affects the quality of the fruiting body post-harvest.
Environmental factors such as temperature and humidity play a significant role in spore discharge. For instance, studies have shown that at any given relative humidity, an increase in temperature leads to a decrease in the viability of fungus spores, while lower temperatures above 0°C favour longevity. Extremes of temperature have been found to repress spore discharge, and certain species exhibit more sporulation at 20°C than at 6°C. Relative humidity is also crucial, as spore discharge rarely occurs below a certain threshold.
The structure of the mushroom also influences spore discharge. The vertical orientation of the gills, for example, is critical to maximising the number of spores released. The absence of V-shaped gills in some mushroom species, such as Coprinus comatus, does not hinder spore dispersal as they have evolved effective solutions to the problem.
Additionally, the moisture in the environment is essential for the ballistospore discharge mechanism, which is found in mushroom-forming fungi. These fungi have some control over the humidity between their gills, but they are still restricted to moist habitats and fruit after rainfall.
Furthermore, the quality of the fruiting body post-harvest can be significantly affected by the environmental conditions during spore discharge. While the focus has primarily been on the environmental factors influencing the discharge, the subsequent movement of spores, or spore dispersal, can involve vast distances through the atmosphere.
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Spores are released from the hymenium of mature fruiting bodies
Mushrooms reproduce by releasing spores into the environment, which then grow into new fungi. The spores are released from the hymenium of mature fruiting bodies. This process is known as spore discharge (SD) and is crucial for the continuation of mushroom species.
Mushrooms can release spores in various ways. The common field mushroom, for example, releases spores from gills located on the underside of its cap. The gills of different parts of the mushroom may mature simultaneously, allowing spores from various areas of the gill to be released into the surrounding air at the same time. The vertical orientation of the gills is essential to maximising the number of spores that escape the confines of the cap. Once released, the spores travel along wind currents and germinate when they land in a moist place.
Some mushrooms, like puffballs, stinkhorns, and truffle-like species, are "passive" spore releasers. They do not have ballistospores, which are characterised by a hilar appendix protruding from the base. Instead, they release spores when jostled or squeezed, or in response to environmental factors like raindrops. Raindrops can compress the loosely packed spore bags of puffballs and earth-balls, forcing clouds of basidiospores into the air through tears in the fruit body jacket or through a pore or nozzle on its upper surface.
The members of the genus Coprinus, commonly called Inkcaps, have a unique method of spore release. While their caps do not dissolve as dramatically as those of Coprinus comatus (the Shaggy Inkcap), they still release spores in rising bands. As each group of spores matures, the gills dissolve and drip away, allowing the spores to fall clear of the diminishing cap.
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Puffballs release spores when jostled or squeezed
Puffballs are a type of fungus featuring a ball-shaped fruit body that, when mature, bursts on contact or impact, releasing a cloud of dust-like spores into the surrounding area. They are typically spherical, ball-shaped, or pear-shaped mushrooms that house a mass of powdery spores inside. The spores of puffballs are statismospores, meaning they are not forcibly extruded from the basidium. Instead, they rely upon external forces such as a raindrop or a small animal bumping into the peridium to release and disperse the spores from the mushroom. This is a fairly passive process – the energy needed to eject the spores is supplied by an external force, all the puffball needs to do is sit there and wait.
Puffballs are well-known by all the Native American tribes of North America, though uses varied across them. Some wanted nothing to do with them. Some used them as a styptic (stops a wound from bleeding) by mixing the spores with spiderwebs and bark and applying it to wounds. Cherokee Indians used it to help heal sores and burns (early settlers in the blacksmith trade also picked up this trick). Many tribes collected them for food. Some wore dried ones around their necks to help ward off ghosts and evil spirits.
The giant puffball, Calvatia gigantea, reaches 1 foot (0.30 m) or more in diameter and is difficult to mistake for any other fungus. It has been estimated that, when mature, a large specimen of this fungus will produce around 7 × 10^12 spores, which is more than any other known organism. Luckily, these spores are Goldilocksian in their germination needs. If conditions aren’t just right, which is well over 99.99% of the time, they fail to produce another puffball. Perhaps a single spore out of those trillions will become a mushroom.
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Spore dispersal is a two-step process
Fungi and plants are sessile, meaning they are immobile and cannot walk or fly to new habitats. This leaves them with two methods to extend their range: they can either grow into an adjoining area or disperse spores or seeds.
The second step of spore dispersal involves the transportation of the spores to a new location. Spores can be dispersed through wind, water, or animals. When spores are caught by the wind, they can be carried long distances. For example, spores of wheat rust have been reported to have been dispersed 1,243 miles (2,000 km) by the wind. Water can also disperse spores. The spores of some fungi are dispersed on the surface of the water, and their chemical composition means they will not sink. Spores can also be dispersed by animals. For example, truffles develop an aroma that attracts animals, who dig up the truffles for food. Once the spores are in a new location, they can germinate and grow into new fungi.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, stepping on a mushroom can release spores. Mushrooms release spores from the gills or pores on the underside of their caps, and the force of being stepped on can cause spores to be discharged.
Mushrooms have a two-step process for spore release and dispersal. The first step is the discharge of spores from the basidia on the surface of the gills or pores. The second step is dispersal away from the parent mushroom, which can be aided by wind currents.
Mushroom spores are important for the continuation of mushroom species. When spores land in a moist place, they germinate and grow into new mushrooms.
Mushroom spores are microscopic and appear as a fine dust or powder. They are so small that it takes 25,000 spores to cover a pinhead.
