Reproduction of mushrooms. Mushroom propagation methods

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:46

We used to call mushrooms mushrooms and boletus mushrooms, which look great on a table served for dinner. But we talk about their real nature only in botany lessons or in the case of rare “near-scientific” conversations. The structure, mode of existence, and even more so the reproduction of mushrooms for the majority of the population remain "a secret covered in darkness." Yes, it's a special issue. Nevertheless, it is desirable for an educated person to have a minimal idea of \u200b\u200beverything. Isn't it?

Description of a living organism

Before delving into the entertaining and confusing topic of "Methods of reproduction of mushrooms", let's find out what they are. This is important and very

interesting. Looking ahead, let's say that the reproduction of mushrooms is not an easy process. It's like this - two words, you can not describe. But let's go in order. Fungi are living organisms thatfeatures of both plants and animals. A symbiosis of both. Their kingdom is vast! It includes the fungi themselves and mycoids (the so-called mushroom-like organisms). Currently, more than one hundred thousand of their species are known, although scientists are sure that they have studied only a third of those that exist in nature. This hypothesis can hardly be questioned, since the existence and reproduction of fungi, as it turns out, can take place in the most difficult and unimaginable conditions. Science has come to the conclusion that these living organisms do not have common roots with plants. They originated from special microorganisms that lived in the ocean. Mushrooms are close to plants by the structure of the cell wall, stationarity, the ability to reproduce by spores, and the synthesis of vitamins. In addition, they absorb nutrients from the soil. They also share common traits with animals. Namely: mushrooms accumulate glycogen in the form of a reserve, secrete urea, and are not able to create nutrients themselves.

A little about the structure

To imagine the reproduction of mushrooms, you need to know how they look. After all, it is not clear what exactly will be recreated. Mushrooms for the most part consist of a vegetative body. This is not at all what we see and collect. This organism is actually a huge mass of thin colorless threads, called the "mycelium" or "mycelium". It is divided into two parts.

One is in the ground and is responsible for food. The second is close to the surface. This part is engaged in the formation of reproductive organs (we call them fungi). The living organism itselfknows how to very cunningly adapt to the environment, modifying the vegetative body. For example, parasites can take root in the "donor", sucking out nutrients from it.

Methods of reproduction of mushrooms

Since this is a whole separate world of living organisms that do not have "relatives" in the environment of animals and plants, then it exists in its own way. Fungal reproduction can be sexual, asexual or vegetative. Some of their species give birth to their own kind by budding. That is, there are practically all methods known to science. If we consider in more detail, then here there are some peculiarities and nuances.

So, asexual reproduction of fungi occurs in the mycelium. A single cell of this thread can form a separate organism. In addition, in order to "continue the race", these organisms create special processes - the reproductive organ. In mushrooms, it appears mainly in a warm, humid period. Those elements from which a new organism can develop are called diaspora.

Vegetative reproduction of mushrooms

These organisms can even come from a single cell, which is a diaspora. Most often, a part is separated from the mycelium, which becomes an independent organism. With this method, a reproductive organ is not needed. Mushrooms are just part

mycelium separates from the main body, buds, so to speak. A new one grows out of it. Another mycelium of some varieties can form oidia (light processes of threads). From them comes a neworganism. This is a kind of transitional form from vegetative to asexual reproduction. You can't see this process in nature. Everything happens in the soil (the environment where the mycelium grows).

Asexual reproduction

This process is more open. It is carried out through disputes. They are very small and light. They do not sink in water, are carried by the wind, stick to the fur of animals. That's how they travel. Once in suitable conditions, they begin to develop. Disputes are divided into resting and propagative, mobile and immobile. Low organized fungi are equipped with a more aggressive reproduction mechanism. They are characterized by motile spores equipped with a flagellum. They can fly up to a thousand kilometers. The asexual reproduction of fungi, to which we are accustomed, occurs through immobile spores. They are also different. For simplicity, we divide them into endogenous and exogenous. The first are formed inside the sporangia. Such spores have a dense shell. The amount depends on the specific type of mushroom. Some fungi have only one spore (conidia). The ways of their formation are very diverse. For the most part, they form on the tops of conidiophores.

Sexual reproduction

There are also variations here. Sexual reproduction of fungi can take place in various ways associated with the formation of a zygote. One of them is gametogamy. This method is typical for low organized fungi. It can be interpreted as

fusion of two cells (gametes). In some species they are the same, in others they differ in size. Gametes also differ inmobility. That is, nature "trained" on mushrooms, developing methods of reproduction. These types of organisms lack traditional oogamy (fixed female and mobile male cells). Sexual reproduction of fungi can take place in the form of gametogamy. This method is typical for highly organized organisms. The most typical for sexual reproduction in fungi is somatogamy. The process consists in the fact that spores germinate and merge with shells, then with nuclei. A new organism develops from them.

About cap mushrooms

The theory is, of course, interesting, but to understand the processes it is desirable to "feel" an example. Consider the reproduction of cap mushrooms. We can see and explore them. What people collect for food is called fruiting bodies. Their mushrooms are grown in order to organize the reproduction process. In science, they are also called "organs of sporulation." They consist of a cap and a stem, which are dense bundles of hyphae. The spores are at the top. The hat has two sections. Upper - dense, covered with colored skin. Under it hides the bottom layer. In some species it is lamellar, in others it is tubular. Spores rest in this layer.

For example, russula and champignons have a lamellar structure, while oil and boletus have a tubular structure. Up to millions of spores mature in this layer. They spill out onto the soil, are carried by wind or animals, insects, water. This is how the process of reproduction goes.

Why mushrooms are cut and not pulled out

Because people collect“organs of sporulation”, then, against their will, they interfere in the process of reproduction of these organisms. If you just pick up the "bag of seeds", then the mushroom will grow a new one. In fact, it is huge and creates not one, but

many "organs of sporulation". And when we pull out a camelina or a boletus, we cause huge damage to the mycelium (the fungus itself). It takes a long time to restore it. It may turn out that in a given area it will not grow. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully trim the leg so as not to harm the mycelium.

This is interesting

Scientists are very carefully studying these living organisms. They are not just observed, many experiments are carried out with them. Some of which are shocking. So, it is known that Japanese researchers came to the conclusion about the reasonableness of yellow yeast. They conducted an experiment in which they forced this organism to grow in a "maze" where sugar was hidden. It turned out that the yellow mold “remembers” the path along which it got to the delicacy. A sprout taken from this organism grew right up to where the sugar was! But this is just a simple mushroom that reproduces vegetatively.