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Nicholas P Money - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Overview of the mechanism of droplet formation on the surface of basidioSpores.
2015Co-Authors: Maribeth O. Hassett, Mark W F Fischer, Nicholas P MoneyAbstract:(A-C) Condensation of water on the Spore surface associated with Spore Discharge. Process of drop formation is driven by the presence of hygroscopic sugars on the Spore surface in the two positions shown in gray in A. (D, E) Water evaporates from the surface of the airborne Spore. (F) Condensation of water on the Spore surface resumes under conditions of high atmospheric relative humidity. (G) Larger droplets of water formed by merger of Spores carrying smaller droplets.
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Adaptation of the Spore Discharge Mechanism in the
2013Co-Authors: Jessica L. Stolze-rybczynski, Diana J. Davis, Mark W F Fischer, Yunluan Cui, M. Henry, H. Stevens, Nicholas P MoneyAbstract:Background: Spore Discharge in the majority of the 30,000 described species of Basidiomycota is powered by the rapid motion of a fluid droplet, called Buller’s drop, over the Spore surface. In basidiomycete yeasts, and phytopathogenic rusts and smuts, Spores are Discharged directly into the airflow around the fungal colony. Maximum Discharge distances of 1– 2 mm have been reported for these fungi. In mushroom-forming species, however, Spores are propelled over much shorter ranges. In gilled mushrooms, for example, Discharge distances of,0.1 mm ensure that Spores do not collide with opposing gill surfaces. The way in which the range of the mechanism is controlled has not been studied previously. Methodology/Principal Findings: In this study, we report high-speed video analysis of Spore Discharge in selected basidiomycetes ranging from yeasts to wood-decay fungi with poroid fruiting bodies. Analysis of these video data and mathematical modeling show that Discharge distance is determined by both Spore size and the size of the Buller’s drop. Furthermore, because the size of Buller’s drop is controlled by Spore shape, these experiments suggest that seemingly minor changes in Spore morphology exert major effects upon Discharge distance. Conclusions/Significance: This biomechanical analysis of Spore Discharge mechanisms in mushroom-forming fungi and their relatives is the first of its kind and provides a novel view of the incredible variety of Spore morphology that has been catalogued by traditional taxonomists for more than 200 years. Rather than representing non-selected variations i
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Adaptation of the Spore Discharge Mechanism in the Basidiomycota
PLOS ONE, 2009Co-Authors: Jessica L. Stolze-rybczynski, Diana J. Davis, M. Henry H. Stevens, Mark W F Fischer, Nicholas P MoneyAbstract:Background Spore Discharge in the majority of the 30,000 described species of Basidiomycota is powered by the rapid motion of a fluid droplet, called Buller's drop, over the Spore surface. In basidiomycete yeasts, and phytopathogenic rusts and smuts, Spores are Discharged directly into the airflow around the fungal colony. Maximum Discharge distances of 1–2 mm have been reported for these fungi. In mushroom-forming species, however, Spores are propelled over much shorter ranges. In gilled mushrooms, for example, Discharge distances of
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adaptation of the Spore Discharge mechanism in the basidiomycota
PLOS ONE, 2009Co-Authors: Jessica L Stolzerybczynski, Diana J. Davis, Mark W F Fischer, Henry M H Stevens, Nicholas P MoneyAbstract:Background Spore Discharge in the majority of the 30,000 described species of Basidiomycota is powered by the rapid motion of a fluid droplet, called Buller's drop, over the Spore surface. In basidiomycete yeasts, and phytopathogenic rusts and smuts, Spores are Discharged directly into the airflow around the fungal colony. Maximum Discharge distances of 1–2 mm have been reported for these fungi. In mushroom-forming species, however, Spores are propelled over much shorter ranges. In gilled mushrooms, for example, Discharge distances of <0.1 mm ensure that Spores do not collide with opposing gill surfaces. The way in which the range of the mechanism is controlled has not been studied previously.
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biomechanics of Spore release in phytopathogens
2009Co-Authors: Nicholas P Money, Mark W F FischerAbstract:Movement is one of the defining characteristics of living organisms. Contrary to common perceptions, fungi show a remarkable range of motion. Motion inside fungal cells, including mass flow of cytoplasm, was first observed by Antonie van Leewenhoek and influenced the eighteenth-century view of fungi as an eccentric branch of the animal kingdom (Ainsworth 1976). This flow of cytoplasm accompanies the extension of hyphae, and there are a number of similarities between this growth process and amoeboid locomotion (Heath and Steinberg 1999). Faster movements include invertebrate capture by constricting rings and microscopic harpoons (Muller 1958; Beakes and Glocking 1998) and a series of spectacular mechanisms that launch fungal Spores into air (Ingold 1971). Spore Discharge and dispersal are related and it is important to distinguish between them. Discharge refers to the mechanical process that separates the Spore, or sporangium, from its parent mycelium; dispersal follows Discharge. Both processes are vital to the activities of phytopathogens. This chapter emphasizes Spore Discharge in pathogens, but mechanisms among saprobes are also discussed to provide an overview of the diversity of launch processes among the fungi.
Diana J. Davis - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Adaptation of the Spore Discharge Mechanism in the
2013Co-Authors: Jessica L. Stolze-rybczynski, Diana J. Davis, Mark W F Fischer, Yunluan Cui, M. Henry, H. Stevens, Nicholas P MoneyAbstract:Background: Spore Discharge in the majority of the 30,000 described species of Basidiomycota is powered by the rapid motion of a fluid droplet, called Buller’s drop, over the Spore surface. In basidiomycete yeasts, and phytopathogenic rusts and smuts, Spores are Discharged directly into the airflow around the fungal colony. Maximum Discharge distances of 1– 2 mm have been reported for these fungi. In mushroom-forming species, however, Spores are propelled over much shorter ranges. In gilled mushrooms, for example, Discharge distances of,0.1 mm ensure that Spores do not collide with opposing gill surfaces. The way in which the range of the mechanism is controlled has not been studied previously. Methodology/Principal Findings: In this study, we report high-speed video analysis of Spore Discharge in selected basidiomycetes ranging from yeasts to wood-decay fungi with poroid fruiting bodies. Analysis of these video data and mathematical modeling show that Discharge distance is determined by both Spore size and the size of the Buller’s drop. Furthermore, because the size of Buller’s drop is controlled by Spore shape, these experiments suggest that seemingly minor changes in Spore morphology exert major effects upon Discharge distance. Conclusions/Significance: This biomechanical analysis of Spore Discharge mechanisms in mushroom-forming fungi and their relatives is the first of its kind and provides a novel view of the incredible variety of Spore morphology that has been catalogued by traditional taxonomists for more than 200 years. Rather than representing non-selected variations i
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The Fastest Flights in Nature: High-Speed Spore Discharge Mechanisms among Fungi
2013Co-Authors: Levi Yafetto, Diana J. Davis, Mark W F Fischer, Yunluan Cui, Loran Carroll, Andrew C. Henterly, Jordan D. Kessler, Hayley A. Kilroy, Jacob B. Shidler, Jessica L. Stolze-rybczynskiAbstract:Background: 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-filled sporangia, or cells called asci that contain multiple Spores, are pressurized by osmosis. Because Spores are Discharged at such high speeds, most of the information on launch processes from previous studies has been inferred from mathematical models and is subject to a number of errors. Methodology/Principal Findings: In this study, we have used ultra-high-speed video cameras running at maximum frame rates of 250,000 fps to analyze the entire launch process in four species of fungi that grow on the dung of herbivores. For the first time we have direct measurements of launch speeds and empirical estimates of acceleration in these fungi. Launch speeds ranged from 2 to 25 m s 21 and corresponding accelerations of 20,000 to 180,000 g propelled Spores over distances of up to 2.5 meters. In addition, quantitative spectroscopic methods were used to identify the organic and inorganic osmolytes responsible for generating the turgor pressures that drive Spore Discharge. Conclusions/Significance: The new video data allowed us to test different models for the effect of viscous drag and identify errors in the previous approaches to modeling Spore motion. The spectroscopic data show that high speed Spore Discharge mechanisms in fungi are powered by the same levels of turgor pressure that are characteristic of fungal hyphae and do no
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Adaptation of the Spore Discharge Mechanism in the Basidiomycota
PLOS ONE, 2009Co-Authors: Jessica L. Stolze-rybczynski, Diana J. Davis, M. Henry H. Stevens, Mark W F Fischer, Nicholas P MoneyAbstract:Background Spore Discharge in the majority of the 30,000 described species of Basidiomycota is powered by the rapid motion of a fluid droplet, called Buller's drop, over the Spore surface. In basidiomycete yeasts, and phytopathogenic rusts and smuts, Spores are Discharged directly into the airflow around the fungal colony. Maximum Discharge distances of 1–2 mm have been reported for these fungi. In mushroom-forming species, however, Spores are propelled over much shorter ranges. In gilled mushrooms, for example, Discharge distances of
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adaptation of the Spore Discharge mechanism in the basidiomycota
PLOS ONE, 2009Co-Authors: Jessica L Stolzerybczynski, Diana J. Davis, Mark W F Fischer, Henry M H Stevens, Nicholas P MoneyAbstract:Background Spore Discharge in the majority of the 30,000 described species of Basidiomycota is powered by the rapid motion of a fluid droplet, called Buller's drop, over the Spore surface. In basidiomycete yeasts, and phytopathogenic rusts and smuts, Spores are Discharged directly into the airflow around the fungal colony. Maximum Discharge distances of 1–2 mm have been reported for these fungi. In mushroom-forming species, however, Spores are propelled over much shorter ranges. In gilled mushrooms, for example, Discharge distances of <0.1 mm ensure that Spores do not collide with opposing gill surfaces. The way in which the range of the mechanism is controlled has not been studied previously.
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The Fastest Flights in Nature: High-Speed Spore Discharge Mechanisms among Fungi
PLoS ONE, 2008Co-Authors: Levi Yafetto, Diana J. Davis, Mark W F Fischer, Yunluan Cui, Loran Carroll, Andrew C. Henterly, Jordan D. Kessler, Hayley A. Kilroy, Jacob B. Shidler, Jessica L. Stolze-rybczynskiAbstract:Background 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-filled sporangia, or cells called asci that contain multiple Spores, are pressurized by osmosis. Because Spores are Discharged at such high speeds, most of the information on launch processes from previous studies has been inferred from mathematical models and is subject to a number of errors. Methodology/Principal Findings In this study, we have used ultra-high-speed video cameras running at maximum frame rates of 250,000 fps to analyze the entire launch process in four species of fungi that grow on the dung of herbivores. For the first time we have direct measurements of launch speeds and empirical estimates of acceleration in these fungi. Launch speeds ranged from 2 to 25 m s−1 and corresponding accelerations of 20,000 to 180,000 g propelled Spores over distances of up to 2.5 meters. In addition, quantitative spectroscopic methods were used to identify the organic and inorganic osmolytes responsible for generating the turgor pressures that drive Spore Discharge. Conclusions/Significance The new video data allowed us to test different models for the effect of viscous drag and identify errors in the previous approaches to modeling Spore motion. The spectroscopic data show that high speed Spore Discharge mechanisms in fungi are powered by the same levels of turgor pressure that are characteristic of fungal hyphae and do not require any special mechanisms of osmolyte accumulation.
Mark W F Fischer - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Overview of the mechanism of droplet formation on the surface of basidioSpores.
2015Co-Authors: Maribeth O. Hassett, Mark W F Fischer, Nicholas P MoneyAbstract:(A-C) Condensation of water on the Spore surface associated with Spore Discharge. Process of drop formation is driven by the presence of hygroscopic sugars on the Spore surface in the two positions shown in gray in A. (D, E) Water evaporates from the surface of the airborne Spore. (F) Condensation of water on the Spore surface resumes under conditions of high atmospheric relative humidity. (G) Larger droplets of water formed by merger of Spores carrying smaller droplets.
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Adaptation of the Spore Discharge Mechanism in the
2013Co-Authors: Jessica L. Stolze-rybczynski, Diana J. Davis, Mark W F Fischer, Yunluan Cui, M. Henry, H. Stevens, Nicholas P MoneyAbstract:Background: Spore Discharge in the majority of the 30,000 described species of Basidiomycota is powered by the rapid motion of a fluid droplet, called Buller’s drop, over the Spore surface. In basidiomycete yeasts, and phytopathogenic rusts and smuts, Spores are Discharged directly into the airflow around the fungal colony. Maximum Discharge distances of 1– 2 mm have been reported for these fungi. In mushroom-forming species, however, Spores are propelled over much shorter ranges. In gilled mushrooms, for example, Discharge distances of,0.1 mm ensure that Spores do not collide with opposing gill surfaces. The way in which the range of the mechanism is controlled has not been studied previously. Methodology/Principal Findings: In this study, we report high-speed video analysis of Spore Discharge in selected basidiomycetes ranging from yeasts to wood-decay fungi with poroid fruiting bodies. Analysis of these video data and mathematical modeling show that Discharge distance is determined by both Spore size and the size of the Buller’s drop. Furthermore, because the size of Buller’s drop is controlled by Spore shape, these experiments suggest that seemingly minor changes in Spore morphology exert major effects upon Discharge distance. Conclusions/Significance: This biomechanical analysis of Spore Discharge mechanisms in mushroom-forming fungi and their relatives is the first of its kind and provides a novel view of the incredible variety of Spore morphology that has been catalogued by traditional taxonomists for more than 200 years. Rather than representing non-selected variations i
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The Fastest Flights in Nature: High-Speed Spore Discharge Mechanisms among Fungi
2013Co-Authors: Levi Yafetto, Diana J. Davis, Mark W F Fischer, Yunluan Cui, Loran Carroll, Andrew C. Henterly, Jordan D. Kessler, Hayley A. Kilroy, Jacob B. Shidler, Jessica L. Stolze-rybczynskiAbstract:Background: 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-filled sporangia, or cells called asci that contain multiple Spores, are pressurized by osmosis. Because Spores are Discharged at such high speeds, most of the information on launch processes from previous studies has been inferred from mathematical models and is subject to a number of errors. Methodology/Principal Findings: In this study, we have used ultra-high-speed video cameras running at maximum frame rates of 250,000 fps to analyze the entire launch process in four species of fungi that grow on the dung of herbivores. For the first time we have direct measurements of launch speeds and empirical estimates of acceleration in these fungi. Launch speeds ranged from 2 to 25 m s 21 and corresponding accelerations of 20,000 to 180,000 g propelled Spores over distances of up to 2.5 meters. In addition, quantitative spectroscopic methods were used to identify the organic and inorganic osmolytes responsible for generating the turgor pressures that drive Spore Discharge. Conclusions/Significance: The new video data allowed us to test different models for the effect of viscous drag and identify errors in the previous approaches to modeling Spore motion. The spectroscopic data show that high speed Spore Discharge mechanisms in fungi are powered by the same levels of turgor pressure that are characteristic of fungal hyphae and do no
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Adaptation of the Spore Discharge Mechanism in the Basidiomycota
PLOS ONE, 2009Co-Authors: Jessica L. Stolze-rybczynski, Diana J. Davis, M. Henry H. Stevens, Mark W F Fischer, Nicholas P MoneyAbstract:Background Spore Discharge in the majority of the 30,000 described species of Basidiomycota is powered by the rapid motion of a fluid droplet, called Buller's drop, over the Spore surface. In basidiomycete yeasts, and phytopathogenic rusts and smuts, Spores are Discharged directly into the airflow around the fungal colony. Maximum Discharge distances of 1–2 mm have been reported for these fungi. In mushroom-forming species, however, Spores are propelled over much shorter ranges. In gilled mushrooms, for example, Discharge distances of
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adaptation of the Spore Discharge mechanism in the basidiomycota
PLOS ONE, 2009Co-Authors: Jessica L Stolzerybczynski, Diana J. Davis, Mark W F Fischer, Henry M H Stevens, Nicholas P MoneyAbstract:Background Spore Discharge in the majority of the 30,000 described species of Basidiomycota is powered by the rapid motion of a fluid droplet, called Buller's drop, over the Spore surface. In basidiomycete yeasts, and phytopathogenic rusts and smuts, Spores are Discharged directly into the airflow around the fungal colony. Maximum Discharge distances of 1–2 mm have been reported for these fungi. In mushroom-forming species, however, Spores are propelled over much shorter ranges. In gilled mushrooms, for example, Discharge distances of <0.1 mm ensure that Spores do not collide with opposing gill surfaces. The way in which the range of the mechanism is controlled has not been studied previously.
Yunluan Cui - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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By
2016Co-Authors: Yunluan CuiAbstract:Most poroid basidiomycetes produce Spores in vertically aligned fertilized hymenia in the form of tubes. The violently Discharged Spores must be propelled over limited distances to avoid impaction on the opposing surfaces of the tubes. Based on the widely accepted Spore Discharge model, we aim to find the keys that control the Spore Discharge distance, in order to reveal how ballistoSpores are adapted to the wide range of tube sizes. The study involved the use of a high-speed video camera to record the Spore Discharge process, and morphological studies of the basidioSpores using scanning electron microscopy. Our models suggest that the size of Buller’s drop, irrespective of Spore size and mass, is the primary determinant of Discharge distance. Meanwhile, the diverse morphology of ballistoSpores plays an important role in determining th
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Adaptation of the Spore Discharge Mechanism in the
2013Co-Authors: Jessica L. Stolze-rybczynski, Diana J. Davis, Mark W F Fischer, Yunluan Cui, M. Henry, H. Stevens, Nicholas P MoneyAbstract:Background: Spore Discharge in the majority of the 30,000 described species of Basidiomycota is powered by the rapid motion of a fluid droplet, called Buller’s drop, over the Spore surface. In basidiomycete yeasts, and phytopathogenic rusts and smuts, Spores are Discharged directly into the airflow around the fungal colony. Maximum Discharge distances of 1– 2 mm have been reported for these fungi. In mushroom-forming species, however, Spores are propelled over much shorter ranges. In gilled mushrooms, for example, Discharge distances of,0.1 mm ensure that Spores do not collide with opposing gill surfaces. The way in which the range of the mechanism is controlled has not been studied previously. Methodology/Principal Findings: In this study, we report high-speed video analysis of Spore Discharge in selected basidiomycetes ranging from yeasts to wood-decay fungi with poroid fruiting bodies. Analysis of these video data and mathematical modeling show that Discharge distance is determined by both Spore size and the size of the Buller’s drop. Furthermore, because the size of Buller’s drop is controlled by Spore shape, these experiments suggest that seemingly minor changes in Spore morphology exert major effects upon Discharge distance. Conclusions/Significance: This biomechanical analysis of Spore Discharge mechanisms in mushroom-forming fungi and their relatives is the first of its kind and provides a novel view of the incredible variety of Spore morphology that has been catalogued by traditional taxonomists for more than 200 years. Rather than representing non-selected variations i
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The Fastest Flights in Nature: High-Speed Spore Discharge Mechanisms among Fungi
2013Co-Authors: Levi Yafetto, Diana J. Davis, Mark W F Fischer, Yunluan Cui, Loran Carroll, Andrew C. Henterly, Jordan D. Kessler, Hayley A. Kilroy, Jacob B. Shidler, Jessica L. Stolze-rybczynskiAbstract:Background: 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-filled sporangia, or cells called asci that contain multiple Spores, are pressurized by osmosis. Because Spores are Discharged at such high speeds, most of the information on launch processes from previous studies has been inferred from mathematical models and is subject to a number of errors. Methodology/Principal Findings: In this study, we have used ultra-high-speed video cameras running at maximum frame rates of 250,000 fps to analyze the entire launch process in four species of fungi that grow on the dung of herbivores. For the first time we have direct measurements of launch speeds and empirical estimates of acceleration in these fungi. Launch speeds ranged from 2 to 25 m s 21 and corresponding accelerations of 20,000 to 180,000 g propelled Spores over distances of up to 2.5 meters. In addition, quantitative spectroscopic methods were used to identify the organic and inorganic osmolytes responsible for generating the turgor pressures that drive Spore Discharge. Conclusions/Significance: The new video data allowed us to test different models for the effect of viscous drag and identify errors in the previous approaches to modeling Spore motion. The spectroscopic data show that high speed Spore Discharge mechanisms in fungi are powered by the same levels of turgor pressure that are characteristic of fungal hyphae and do no
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The Fastest Flights in Nature: High-Speed Spore Discharge Mechanisms among Fungi
PLoS ONE, 2008Co-Authors: Levi Yafetto, Diana J. Davis, Mark W F Fischer, Yunluan Cui, Loran Carroll, Andrew C. Henterly, Jordan D. Kessler, Hayley A. Kilroy, Jacob B. Shidler, Jessica L. Stolze-rybczynskiAbstract:Background 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-filled sporangia, or cells called asci that contain multiple Spores, are pressurized by osmosis. Because Spores are Discharged at such high speeds, most of the information on launch processes from previous studies has been inferred from mathematical models and is subject to a number of errors. Methodology/Principal Findings In this study, we have used ultra-high-speed video cameras running at maximum frame rates of 250,000 fps to analyze the entire launch process in four species of fungi that grow on the dung of herbivores. For the first time we have direct measurements of launch speeds and empirical estimates of acceleration in these fungi. Launch speeds ranged from 2 to 25 m s−1 and corresponding accelerations of 20,000 to 180,000 g propelled Spores over distances of up to 2.5 meters. In addition, quantitative spectroscopic methods were used to identify the organic and inorganic osmolytes responsible for generating the turgor pressures that drive Spore Discharge. Conclusions/Significance The new video data allowed us to test different models for the effect of viscous drag and identify errors in the previous approaches to modeling Spore motion. The spectroscopic data show that high speed Spore Discharge mechanisms in fungi are powered by the same levels of turgor pressure that are characteristic of fungal hyphae and do not require any special mechanisms of osmolyte accumulation.
Jessica L. Stolze-rybczynski - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Adaptation of the Spore Discharge Mechanism in the
2013Co-Authors: Jessica L. Stolze-rybczynski, Diana J. Davis, Mark W F Fischer, Yunluan Cui, M. Henry, H. Stevens, Nicholas P MoneyAbstract:Background: Spore Discharge in the majority of the 30,000 described species of Basidiomycota is powered by the rapid motion of a fluid droplet, called Buller’s drop, over the Spore surface. In basidiomycete yeasts, and phytopathogenic rusts and smuts, Spores are Discharged directly into the airflow around the fungal colony. Maximum Discharge distances of 1– 2 mm have been reported for these fungi. In mushroom-forming species, however, Spores are propelled over much shorter ranges. In gilled mushrooms, for example, Discharge distances of,0.1 mm ensure that Spores do not collide with opposing gill surfaces. The way in which the range of the mechanism is controlled has not been studied previously. Methodology/Principal Findings: In this study, we report high-speed video analysis of Spore Discharge in selected basidiomycetes ranging from yeasts to wood-decay fungi with poroid fruiting bodies. Analysis of these video data and mathematical modeling show that Discharge distance is determined by both Spore size and the size of the Buller’s drop. Furthermore, because the size of Buller’s drop is controlled by Spore shape, these experiments suggest that seemingly minor changes in Spore morphology exert major effects upon Discharge distance. Conclusions/Significance: This biomechanical analysis of Spore Discharge mechanisms in mushroom-forming fungi and their relatives is the first of its kind and provides a novel view of the incredible variety of Spore morphology that has been catalogued by traditional taxonomists for more than 200 years. Rather than representing non-selected variations i
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The Fastest Flights in Nature: High-Speed Spore Discharge Mechanisms among Fungi
2013Co-Authors: Levi Yafetto, Diana J. Davis, Mark W F Fischer, Yunluan Cui, Loran Carroll, Andrew C. Henterly, Jordan D. Kessler, Hayley A. Kilroy, Jacob B. Shidler, Jessica L. Stolze-rybczynskiAbstract:Background: 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-filled sporangia, or cells called asci that contain multiple Spores, are pressurized by osmosis. Because Spores are Discharged at such high speeds, most of the information on launch processes from previous studies has been inferred from mathematical models and is subject to a number of errors. Methodology/Principal Findings: In this study, we have used ultra-high-speed video cameras running at maximum frame rates of 250,000 fps to analyze the entire launch process in four species of fungi that grow on the dung of herbivores. For the first time we have direct measurements of launch speeds and empirical estimates of acceleration in these fungi. Launch speeds ranged from 2 to 25 m s 21 and corresponding accelerations of 20,000 to 180,000 g propelled Spores over distances of up to 2.5 meters. In addition, quantitative spectroscopic methods were used to identify the organic and inorganic osmolytes responsible for generating the turgor pressures that drive Spore Discharge. Conclusions/Significance: The new video data allowed us to test different models for the effect of viscous drag and identify errors in the previous approaches to modeling Spore motion. The spectroscopic data show that high speed Spore Discharge mechanisms in fungi are powered by the same levels of turgor pressure that are characteristic of fungal hyphae and do no
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Adaptation of the Spore Discharge Mechanism in the Basidiomycota
PLOS ONE, 2009Co-Authors: Jessica L. Stolze-rybczynski, Diana J. Davis, M. Henry H. Stevens, Mark W F Fischer, Nicholas P MoneyAbstract:Background Spore Discharge in the majority of the 30,000 described species of Basidiomycota is powered by the rapid motion of a fluid droplet, called Buller's drop, over the Spore surface. In basidiomycete yeasts, and phytopathogenic rusts and smuts, Spores are Discharged directly into the airflow around the fungal colony. Maximum Discharge distances of 1–2 mm have been reported for these fungi. In mushroom-forming species, however, Spores are propelled over much shorter ranges. In gilled mushrooms, for example, Discharge distances of
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The Fastest Flights in Nature: High-Speed Spore Discharge Mechanisms among Fungi
PLoS ONE, 2008Co-Authors: Levi Yafetto, Diana J. Davis, Mark W F Fischer, Yunluan Cui, Loran Carroll, Andrew C. Henterly, Jordan D. Kessler, Hayley A. Kilroy, Jacob B. Shidler, Jessica L. Stolze-rybczynskiAbstract:Background 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-filled sporangia, or cells called asci that contain multiple Spores, are pressurized by osmosis. Because Spores are Discharged at such high speeds, most of the information on launch processes from previous studies has been inferred from mathematical models and is subject to a number of errors. Methodology/Principal Findings In this study, we have used ultra-high-speed video cameras running at maximum frame rates of 250,000 fps to analyze the entire launch process in four species of fungi that grow on the dung of herbivores. For the first time we have direct measurements of launch speeds and empirical estimates of acceleration in these fungi. Launch speeds ranged from 2 to 25 m s−1 and corresponding accelerations of 20,000 to 180,000 g propelled Spores over distances of up to 2.5 meters. In addition, quantitative spectroscopic methods were used to identify the organic and inorganic osmolytes responsible for generating the turgor pressures that drive Spore Discharge. Conclusions/Significance The new video data allowed us to test different models for the effect of viscous drag and identify errors in the previous approaches to modeling Spore motion. The spectroscopic data show that high speed Spore Discharge mechanisms in fungi are powered by the same levels of turgor pressure that are characteristic of fungal hyphae and do not require any special mechanisms of osmolyte accumulation.