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Biomechanics of spore discharge in the Basidiomycota

Stolze-Rybczynski, Jessica L.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1249933181

Abstract Details

2009, Doctor of Philosophy, Miami University, Botany.
The Basidiomycota are a group of morphologically diverse fungi. One characteristic that sets these fungi apart from the rest of the kingdom is the production of actively launched basidiospores called ballistospores. The ballistospore discharge mechanism is a process powered by the rapid movement of a drop of fluid, called Buller’s drop, over the spore surface. Using biochemical techniques and mathematical modeling, this dissertation presents results from experiments that were designed to investigate how the discharge mechanism has been adapted in these diverse fungi. This is the first known comprehensive study to capture and model spore discharge in Basidiomycota using high speed video. Small particles are subject to viscous drag when in flight that greatly affects their trajectory. Using Stokes’ law to model spore flight, we were able to estimate spore trajectory. The video data and estimates of energy usage during spore discharge reveal how the mechanism has been adapted to limit discharge distance in species with gilled and poroid fruiting bodies, and to maximize range in basidiomycetes that produce ballistospores on exposed surfaces. The limited discharge distance in mushroom-forming fungi may have evolved to prevent spores from being wasted by impaction on closely opposing surfaces (i.e., gills, tubes). In contrast, the farther range reached by fungi with exposed surfaces, allows the spores to be shot beyond the boundary layer of still air in which they develop. The 6-carbon sugar alcohol, D-mannitol, was the dominant hygroscopic compound found in Buller’s drops across a range of species (from mushroom-forming fungi to basidiomycete yeasts) which indicates that it is conserved among species. This compound is involved in the formation of the Buller’s drop, and therefore, a potentially necessary component of the discharge mechanism. Discharge distance is determined by both spore size and the size of Buller’s drop. The size of Buller’s drop is controlled by spore shape, which means that seemingly minor changes in spore morphology exert major effects upon discharge distance. Based on these observations, we hypothesize that evolutionary modifications to fruiting body architecture, including changes in gill separation and tube diameter, may be tightly linked to alterations in spore morphology.
Nicholas Money, PhD (Advisor)
M. H. Hank Stevens, PhD (Committee Member)
Daniel Gladish, PhD (Committee Member)
Qingshun Quinn Li, PhD (Committee Member)
Michael Crowder, PhD (Committee Member)
112 p.
Cellular Biology
ballistospore discharge; high speed video; modeling spore trajectory

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Stolze-Rybczynski, J. L. (2009). Biomechanics of spore discharge in the Basidiomycota [Doctoral dissertation, Miami University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1249933181

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Stolze-Rybczynski, Jessica. Biomechanics of spore discharge in the Basidiomycota. 2009. Miami University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1249933181.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Stolze-Rybczynski, Jessica. "Biomechanics of spore discharge in the Basidiomycota." Doctoral dissertation, Miami University, 2009. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1249933181

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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This open access ETD is published by Miami University and OhioLINK.