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Fungal spore diversity reflects substrate-specific deposition challenges
Sara Calhim1, Panu Halme2, Jens H Petersen3
1Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland.
Scientific Reports
|March 31, 2018
Summary
Fungal spore evolution is linked to their ecological roles. Large, ornamented spores aid ectomycorrhizal fungi in dispersal, while elongated shapes help saprotrophic fungi avoid washing away.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Ecology
Background:
- Fungal sexual spores are crucial for dispersal and population dynamics.
- Spore morphology exhibits significant diversity, but evolutionary drivers remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between trophic status, substrate, and fungal spore morphology.
- To understand the evolutionary pressures shaping fungal spore characteristics.
Main Methods:
- Analyzed spore morphology (size, ornamentation, shape) in 787 macrofungal genera.
- Correlated morphological traits with fungal trophic status (ectomycorrhizal vs. saprotrophic) and substrate associations.
Main Results:
- Spore size and ornamentation are linked to trophic specialization; ectomycorrhizal fungi tend to have larger, ornamented spores.
- Elongated spore shapes, particularly allantoid, are more common in saprotrophic fungi, especially those on above-ground substrates.
- Spore morphology appears adapted for safe substrate arrival rather than solely for dispersal efficiency.
Conclusions:
- Trophic specialization and substrate association significantly influence fungal spore evolution.
- Adaptations for attachment to vectors (e.g., arthropods) and resistance to environmental factors (e.g., precipitation) shape spore morphology.
- Safe arrival on specific substrates is a primary driver of fungal spore morphological evolution.
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