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SomeoneWhoIsMe
psilopsycho



Registered: 11/02/16
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What gives mushroom spores their color?
#27551239 - 11/20/21 02:07 PM (2 years, 5 months ago) |
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I am curious about what gives mushroom spores their color. There's such a wide variety of spore colors and I find it interesting. I did some searching for the answer but haven't really found a good answer. Anyone know the science behind it?
Sorry if this is the wrong forum :p
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Assyrian
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Registered: 11/17/21
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Re: What gives mushroom spores their color? [Re: SomeoneWhoIsMe]
#27551322 - 11/20/21 03:06 PM (2 years, 5 months ago) |
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Most of the times it's the composition of the spore wall, but there are also cases in which the cytoplasm is responsible for the color
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lmao
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Re: What gives mushroom spores their color? [Re: Assyrian] 1
#27551898 - 11/21/21 01:21 AM (2 years, 5 months ago) |
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I know that many mushrooms produce melanin, which is the same compound that makes our human skin and hair turn black.
Maybe that's also the compound that makes spores black?
Melanin is produced by dark septate fungi. They have recently been focus of research because they live inside of plant roots as symbionts. Their significant production of melanin is very good for the soil because it acts as long-term soil carbon. Melanin is a very strong structure and doesn't break down easily. Increasing melanin in the soil means more soil carbon which improves the soil. It also helps sequester atmospheric carbon into the soil.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_septate_endophyte
In terms of gray / white spores. Maybe the color is the product of changing concentrations of melanin?
I know for plants that most colors that we see are only made up of a few compounds and the combination thereof. There are anthocyanin hat, depending on their pH, may appear red, purple, blue, or black. Then there are carotines (red), betalains (yellow) and chlorophyl (green). And most colours of plants and fruits that we see is made up of varying concentrations of these compounds.
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Alan Rockefeller
Mycologist

Registered: 03/10/07
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Re: What gives mushroom spores their color? [Re: lmao]
#27557719 - 11/25/21 02:51 PM (2 years, 5 months ago) |
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There are lots of different pigments that can be present in spores. The function is probably to protect them from ultraviolet light which damages DNA.
One theory, which seems to be true is that dark spored mushrooms are much more likely to be found worldwide, while white spored mushrooms are more likely to be found in only one area.
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CreonAntigone
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Registered: 05/30/21
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Quote:
Alan Rockefeller said: One theory, which seems to be true is that dark spored mushrooms are much more likely to be found worldwide, while white spored mushrooms are more likely to be found in only one area.
What about when the spores of the same species vary in color? For example I have heard it said that APE has whiter-colored spores than most cubes. Can breeding change spore color substantially?
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SomeoneWhoIsMe
psilopsycho



Registered: 11/02/16
Posts: 466
Last seen: 1 year, 3 months
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Quote:
Alan Rockefeller said: There are lots of different pigments that can be present in spores. The function is probably to protect them from ultraviolet light which damages DNA.
One theory, which seems to be true is that dark spored mushrooms are much more likely to be found worldwide, while white spored mushrooms are more likely to be found in only one area.
Fascinating! I appreciate your response Alan.
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