Mushroom Reproduction

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

Function of Gills:-

Gills contain the basidium. The basidium produces the basidiospores. Basidiospores are the reproductive units in mushroom.

Structure of Gills:-

Life cycle of mushroom

Structure of basidium:-

A young basidium contains two nuclei. The two nuclei fuse together to form a uninucleated structure which is called zygotic nucleus. The zygotic nucleus immediately undergoes meiotic division and form four haploid nuclei. Two nuclei belong to positive strain (male) and the remains two belongs to negative strain (female). The distinct division of the male and female nuclei is not obvious. After the maturity of basidium, four fingers like projection appear from the apical part of the basidium. The four basidium spores migrate towards the projection. The projection is termed as strain hyphae maturity. The germinating basidiospores which are elongated and thread-like structure are known as primary mycelium. Those primary mycelium, of opposite strain, fuse and form the structure called secondary mycelium. Though the secondary mycelium fuse the nuclei remain separate from each other. The growth of the secondary mycelium will result into the mature mushroom.
Secondary mycelium: The structure formed by the fusion of two primary mycelia of opposite stain.

The species of mushroom which are cultivated in Nepal:

• Seto chyau
• Parale chyau
• Gobre chyau
• Kanne chau

Those mushrooms which are found in jungle and black in colour are generally poisonous.

Name of some poisonous species of mushroom:

• Amanita vena
• Autumn Skullcap (Galerina marginata)
• Death Cap (Amanita phalloides)
• Deadly Dapperling (Lepiota brunneoincarnata)