Mushroom Morphology

Mushroom is the multicellular saprophytic (depends on decaying organic matters) fungus.

Systematic Classification

Kingdom : Plant

Subkingdom : Cryptogams

Division : Thallophyta

Sub-division : Fungi

Type : Mushroom (Agaricus)

Well labeled diagram of mushroom:

Habit and Habitat:-

The mushroom generally grows in rainy seasons on the dead and decaying matters (because they lack chlorophyll so cannot prepare their own food) on the legs of thetrunk of trees and the soil which is rich in organic matter.

Morphology:-

The plant body of mushroom contains two major parts

Mycelium (underground part) vegetative part

Fruiting body (reproductive part) Basidiocarp

Mycelium:- Mycelium is the underground vegetative part of mushroom which consists of themass of muscle-branched hyphae. It absorbs the food materials from organic matters where it grows.

Fruiting body:- The main body of the mushroom above the ground is called thefruiting body.

Fruiting body contains several parts:

• Pileus:It is the umbrella-like structure that protects growing basidiospore (inside gills).
• Stipe: It gives support for pileus.
• Annulus: It is the structure formed when pileus separates from stipe as mushroom grows up.
• Gills: It is the place where basidiocarp grows.

Gills are the vertical plant-like structures on the under-surface of the pileus.