The Fastest Flights in Nature: High-Speed Spore Discharge Mechanisms among Fungi

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 3; no. 9; p. e3237
• Main Authors: Yafetto, Levi, Carroll, Loran, Cui, Yunluan, Davis, Diana J., Fischer, Mark W. F., Henterly, Andrew C., Kessler, Jordan D., Kilroy, Hayley A., Shidler, Jacob B., Stolze-Rybczynski, Jessica L., Sugawara, Zachary, Money, Nicholas P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 17.09.2008; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Asci; Ascobolus; Ballistics; Cameras; Cell Biology/Microbial Physiology and Metabolism; Cell Biology/Morphogenesis and Cell Biology; Discharge; Dung; Empirical analysis; Fungi; Fungi - physiology; Fusarium graminearum; Herbivores; High speed; Hydrologic data; Hydrostatic pressure; Hyphae; Identification methods; Indoor air quality; Information processing; Mathematical models; Measuring instruments; Microbiology/Microbial Growth and Development; Microbiology/Microbial Physiology and Metabolism; Microscopy, Video - methods; Models, Biological; Models, Theoretical; Movement; Osmosis; Plant diseases; Reproducibility of Results; Reptiles & amphibians; Scientific imaging; Spectrophotometry - methods; Spectroscopy; Sporangia; Spores; Spores, Fungal - physiology; Turgor; Velocity; Video data; Viscous drag; United States > US; Ohio

A variety of spore discharge processes have evolved among the fungi. Those with the longest ranges are powered by hydrostatic pressure and include "squirt guns" that are most common in the Ascomycota and Zygomycota. In these fungi, fluid-filled stalks that support single spores or spore-fi...