common fungal spores

Common Fungal SporesEstelle Levetin, PhD

Fungal Spore Characteristics Spore size Spore shapeNumber of cellsAttachment ScarsWall characteristicsSpore color

Spore Size, Shape, and SeptationSIZE: 2mm to 100 mmSHAPE: Globose, elliptical, fusiform, asymmetric, lemon-shaped, barrel-shaped, curvedSEPTATION: Non-septate (one cell), single septum, transverse septa, transverse and longitudinal septa, random septa, pseudoseptate

Other CharacteristicsATTACHMENTS: Attachment scars, attachment pegsAPPENDAGESWALL CHARACTERISTICS: Smooth, granular, reticulate, spines, warts, wall thicknessCOLOR: Hyaline (colorless) to deeply pigmented

GloboseBarrel-shapedNon-septateRandom septaLemon-shapedClub-shapedTransverse septaAttachment scarsEllipticalCurvedTransverse and Longitudinal septaOrnaments: spinesAsymmetric and germ poreCylindricalPseudoseptateAppendages

Spore color

Asexual SporesAlso known as Deuteromycetes, Fungi Imperfecti (imperfect fungi), or Mitospores

Asexual SporesTypically the most abundant spores in the atmosphereConidia often formed on specialized hyphae called conidiophoresAsexual stage of ascomycetesLook for attachment scars where the spores were attached to the conidiophore

Cladosporium

Note the septumCladosporium

Several species of Cladosporium are common in the atmosphere

Note the prominent attachment scars on Cladosporium conidia

Alternaria

Alternaria

Curvularia

CurvulariaNigrosporaDrechslera

Drechslera-type sporesSeveral genera of fungi have similar cylindrical sporesDrechsleraBipolarisExserohilumHelminthosporium

Drechslera-type spores

Pithomyces

Note the colorless attachment at the base of Pithomyces spores

Epicoccum

Penicillium speciesProduce distinctive conidiophores (spore bearing structures)Spores are usually spherical to oval and form in chains

Aspergillus speciesProduce distinctive conidiophores (spore bearing structures)Spores are usually spherical to oval and form in chains

Penicillium-Aspergillus type spores

NigrosporaNigrospora CultureAir Sample

Periconia

Botrytis CladosporiumCercospora

PolythrinciumPeronospora

Oidium

Tetraploa

Torula

Stemphylium

Spegazzinia

Fusarium

Stachybotrys

Division Ascomycota

Ascospores are produced in an ascus. Eight ascospores are found in each ascus without any attachment scars

Ascospores are sometimes found in groups of eight in air samples

Leptosphaeria ascospores

Chaetomium ascospores

Pleospora ascospores

Diatrypella ascospores

Sporomiella ascospores

Venturia ascospores

Many ascospores on a rainy day

Division Basidiomycota

BasidiosporeBasidium

Ganoderma basidiospores

Other basidiospores that are easy to recognizeAgrocybe - typeCoprinus

Coprinus and Ganoderma basidiospores

Psathyrella Psathyrella velutinaRussulaStropharia

LycoperdonCalvatiaPisolithusScleroderma

Rust spores: PucciniaPuccinia uredosporesPuccinia teliospores

Smut Spores

Smut Spores

Myxomycete (slime mold) spores

Other slime mold spores