John Miller
Mushrooms have a variety of physical characteristics that help identify them, such as the shape, size, colour, and texture of their caps. However, the underside of a mushroom is often the only way to distinguish between edible and poisonous mushrooms. The underside of a mushroom can have gills, teeth, ridges, or pores, and it is on these structures that spores are produced and released. The number of spores on a mushroom gill varies depending on the species of mushroom and the arrangement of its gills.
Gilled mushrooms are produced by multiple orders within the Agaricomycetes, and the presence of gills is believed to increase the surface area available for spore production.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Mushroom part that produces spores | Gills, teeth, ridges, or pores |
| Gills | Small, thin-walled structures that surround the mushroom's stem |
| Types of gills | Lamellae, lamellulae, and false gills |
| Lamellae | Reaches from the stem to the edge |
| Lamellulae | Partial gills that do not reach the stem |
| False gills | Found in the genus Gomphus, these are primitive lamellae that indicate how evolution towards true gills may have occurred |
| Purpose of gills | To increase the ratio of surface area to mass, increasing the potential for spore production and dispersal |
| Spore dispersal | Spores are shot off the gill/pore surface and into the airstream |
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What You'll Learn
Gills are composed of two layers: lamellae and lamellulae
The underside of a mushroom can have gills, teeth, ridges, or pores. Gills are small, thin-walled structures that surround the mushroom's stem and usually occur in clusters around it. They are an important means of spore dispersal and species identification.
Lamellulae (singular: lamellula) are the shorter gills that do not reach the stem. They are also known as partial gills. It is important to note that not all mushrooms possess lamellulae.
The evolution of gills in mushrooms has likely occurred because they increase the surface area-to-mass ratio, enhancing spore production and dispersal. This is similar to the function of gills in fish, which have comb-like filaments that increase the surface area for oxygen exchange.
While gills are a common feature of mushrooms, some species have pores instead. These pores are small, sponge-like holes that lead to tubes inside the cap. As spores mature, they fall out of these tubes and into the environment. Pores also contribute to species identification through their colour, size, pattern, and quantity.
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Gills increase surface area for spore production
The underside of a mushroom can have gills, teeth, ridges, or pores. Gills, also known as lamellae, are thin-walled structures that surround the mushroom's stem and are composed of two layers: the lamellae that reach from the stem to the edge, and the lamellulae, which are shorter gills that don't reach the stem.
The presence of gills increases the surface area available for spore production. Buller (1909) found that, relative to a flat surface, the formation of gills increased the surface area by a factor of 7.0 in Russula citrina (Russulales) and 20.0 in Agaricus campestris (Agaricales). Another study found that, relative to spore production over a flat surface, gills can achieve a maximum 20-fold increase in surface area. This increase in surface area is important because it allows for a larger number of microscopic structures called basidia to be present. Each basidium can produce four spores, or basidiospores.
The gills also play a role in spore dispersal. Spore release from the gills of mushrooms is an intricate process that maximizes the dispersal of spores efficiently. The gills use a dispersal mechanism that propels spores into the air, enhancing the reproductive success of the mushroom. This structural efficiency is key to the life cycle of mushrooms.
The presence of gills on mushrooms is an example of convergent evolution. This means that gill-like structures evolved separately in different species, rather than being an anatomical feature that evolved only once.
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Gills are important for species identification
The underside of a mushroom can have gills, teeth, ridges, or pores, and this is an important way to distinguish between edible and poisonous mushrooms. Gills are thin-walled structures that surround the mushroom's stem and are composed of two layers: the lamellae that reach from the stem to the edge, and the lamellulae, which are shorter gills that don't reach the stem.
The number of gills can also be important for species identification. Some species form a single array of unbranched radial gills beneath their caps, while many others produce multiple files of lamellulae between the primary gills, and branched gills are also common. The branching of gills produces the same increase in surface area as the formation of freestanding lamellulae (short gills).
The evolution of gills in mushrooms has been influenced by the need to increase the ratio of surface area to mass, maximising the potential for spore production and dispersal. This is reflected in the considerable variation in the arrangement of gills among mushroom-forming Agaricomycetes.
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Mushrooms rely on gravity to release spores from gills
The underside of a mushroom can have one of four types of structures: gills, teeth, ridges, or pores. Gills, also known as lamellae, are small, thin-walled structures that surround the mushroom's stem. They are composed of two layers: the lamellae that reach from the stem to the edge, and the lamellulae, which are shorter gills that do not reach the stem.
Mushrooms rely on gravity to release spores from their gills. Most spores are not sticky and simply fall out of the gills. If the spores were located on top of the mushroom, rainwater would get into the gills and the spores would flow with the water to the ground. This would require a second mechanism to protect the spores from the rain. By having gills on the underside of the mushroom, the spores are protected from rain and can fall out and disperse with the help of gravity.
Gravity and wind were the only methods of spore dispersal for a large period of initial fungus evolution. Mushrooms predate moving animals, so they could not rely on animals to disperse their spores. While wind plays a role in spore dispersal, it is not the primary mechanism. Mushrooms have high water needs, and water vapor loss creates slow airflows that carry spores out from under the mushroom cap and potentially tens of centimetres into the air.
In addition to wind and gravity, the active ejection of spores from the gill surface also contributes to spore dispersal. This is followed by a passive phase in which the spores are carried by the wind. A single basidiomycete mushroom can release over 1 billion spores per day, but the probability of any single spore establishing a new individual is very small.
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False gills are distinct from true gills
Mushrooms have a unique anatomy, and their identification is crucial to distinguish between edible and poisonous varieties. The underside of a mushroom, or the mushroom cap, is an important feature for identification. This is where the gills are located, and they are used by the mushrooms as a means of spore dispersal. The number of spores on a mushroom gill can vary, and they are important for species identification.
Chanterelles are a type of mushroom that typically has false gills or primitive gills. These gills tend to be more haphazard and less uniform than true gills. False gills on chanterelles can also be identified by their tendency to curl towards the stem and can often be rubbed off with a finger, whereas true gills cannot. The location of chanterelles can also be indicative of their authenticity, as false chanterelles tend to grow in pine woods, while true chanterelles prefer beech trees.
Additionally, the transverse wrinkles between the primitive gills of chanterelles are a distinguishing feature not typically seen on false chanterelles. The structure of the fertile surface, or "hymenium", also differs between false and true gills. In false gills, the hymenium continues uninterrupted over the gill edge, contributing to their appearance as folds or wrinkles.
Overall, while the distinction between false and true gills can be challenging to discern from photographs, it becomes more apparent through personal experience and examination. The characteristics of false and true gills, particularly in chanterelles, can be crucial for mushroom identification and determining edibility.
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Frequently asked questions
Mushroom gills are thin-walled structures that surround the mushroom's stem and are usually found in clusters around it. They are used by the mushrooms as a means of spore dispersal and are important for species identification.
There is no fixed number of spores on a mushroom gill as it varies depending on the type of mushroom and the arrangement of its gills.
The evolution of gills in mushrooms is due to their ability to increase the ratio of surface area to mass, which in turn increases spore production and dispersal. Additionally, gills prevent spores from getting drenched by rain, which would break the mushroom due to the weight of the water.
