BASIDIOMYCETES (Mushrooms, Bracket fungi, Puff balls etc.)

Coprinus
Coprinus. Like the common mushroom Agaricus is a member of the order Agaricules, of which there are around 5,000 species. The order Agaricules contains mushrooms and toadstools, which are a form of mushroom. Mushrooms are the gilled complex fruiting body or sporocarp, specialized to produce and discharge the spores resulting from sexual reproduction produced by this type of basidiomycete. Coprinus is also known as the inky cap because as part of the dispersal process, autolysis occurs (there is a breakdown of the cells of the gills). The resulting black fluid drips away, carrying the basidiospores with it. In the past the black fluid was collected and used as ink. The basidiospores of Coprinus are dark brown or rust coloured, somewhat lemon shaped and have a broad germ pore which appears as a slight depression at one end. Like Stemphylium, Coprinus is an example of a diurnal sporulator where alternating cycles of light and dark are required for spore development. Spores of Coprinus range from 6 to 15 micrometres (microns) in length.

Agrocybe (left) Ganoderma (right)
Spores of Agrocybe are elliptical in shape and are golden to honey brown with noticeably thick spore wall and prominent germ pore. Agrocybe spore size ranges from 10 to 14 micrometres (microns) in length.
Ganoderma is classified as a bracket fungus. The spores have an orange inner wall and spines that penetrate a colourless outer wall. Ganoderma spores range in size from 6.5-13 x 5-9 micrometres (microns).

Boletus
Spores from the Boletus fungi are found in small numbers. These spores are distinctive because of their elongated apperance compared with many basidiospores, such as those from Agrocybe or Coprinus. To the uninitiated casual observor, some species of Boletus do look a little like a 'toadstool' or 'mushroom'. However, the Boletus fungi is not within the usual terminology of 'mushroom' because unlike the common Agarics where the spores are formed on gills, the spores of Boletus are formed within pores. Many species within this group are distinctive because the centre of the cap turns blue when the stalk is removed.

Rusts (Order Uredinales)
Members of the Urediniomycetes are represented by a single order, the Uredinales. The Uredinales are commonly known as the rusts, which is a group of almost 5,000 specialized plant parasites. Sometimes called 'stem rust' they are exemplified by Puccinia. The rust fungi are host-specific; for example, Puccinia graminis var.tritici occurs on wheat, while Puccinia graminis var.secalis occurs on rye. Although morphologically simple, some rusts have the most complex life cycle found in the fungi, in addition to possessing a high degree of host specificity. As many as five separate spore stages may be formed in succession during the life cycle. Spores of Puccinia graminis are often found on slides used to take samples from the air. This fungi is responsible for black stem rust on wheat and other cereals. Puccinia graminis has a relatively simple life cycle with only stages III and IV of the five present. The stage III spores are one celled spores called urediospores which may be brown, but are usually yellow to orange, are usually ovoid and 18 to 45 micrometres (micron) in length (right). Urediospores are produced during the growing season. As Autumn approaches, stage IV spores: teliospores are produced (left and centre) which are capable of over-wintering. Teliospores are made up of two cells surrounded by thick walls. The teliospores and have a similar range of colours to the urediospores although the thick walls may make them appear darker.

Smuts (Order Ustilaginales)
The class Ustomycetes is represented by a single order, the Ustilaginales. The members of this order can produce a yeast-like unicellular stage. The vast majority of the members of Ustilaginales are plant parasites. These fungi are called smut fungi and number around 850 species which form dark spore masses on host plants, such as grasses and cereal crops. Smuts can be found on many grasses, especially on Johnson grass when it first flowers. Spores of Ustilago (illustrated) and Tilletia are frequently seen.
Their spore size ranges from 5 to 10 micrometres (microns).

Introduction
Fungi Imperfecti/Deuteromycota
Ascomycota
Basidiomycota
Fungal Spores and Allergy
Assessing the Effects
Sampling Spores
Culturing
Visual Identification
Details and Images of some common spore types

References
Links