Ascomycota
Asco's
Phylum recognized by
Retrieving comments, please wait...
Table of Contents
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
- Add New Content
General Description
Microcolonial fungi adapt to extreme conditions: fungi
Source and Additional Information
Free-living ascomycetes growing in colonies can spread into the extremely hostile environments including deserts because they possess extracellular polymeric substances and other adaptations.
“Rock-inhabiting MCF [microcolonial fungi] endure sudden changes in the environment by rapidly adapting their metabolic activity, life style and survival structures to the new conditions. Ultrastructural peculiarities of these fungi suggest spore-like metabolism and protection (Fig. 6) although MCF do not propagate sexually (Gorbushina, 2003; Gorbushina et al., 2003). Relevant characteristics of poikilo-tolerant MCF include: (i) the capacity to survive long periods of suspended metabolism. In this way, they can remain as colonies made up of pseudo tissue-like microcolonies comprising 100–500 cells for several decades until conditions favourable to further growth return; (ii) the ability to re-organize internally by constantly replacing dying or dead cells with new buds (Gorbushina et al., 2003) and Fig. 6C; (iii) the ability to form filamentous hyphae that develop from clump-like colonies (Fig. 5E) to penetrate deep into rocks thus protecting themselves from environmental stresses. In this sense, the visible portion of melanized MCF is like the tip-of-the-iceberg, because the hyphae can rapidly penetrate several mm to cm into hard rocks in search of more protected environments and; (iv) the ability to create a multitude of varnish-like coatings, skins and shells that arise from the impregnation of the extracellular matrix and melanin layers with minerals (Dragovich, 1984; 1993; 1998; Gorbushina, 2003).” (Gorbushina 2007:1619-1620)
Learn more about this functional adaptation.
References
- Gorbushina, A. A. 2007. Life on the rocks. Environmental Microbiology. 9(7): 1613-1631.
Retrieving comments, please wait...
Colonial living leads to long-term survival: fungi
Source and Additional Information
Free-living ascomycetes survive unfavorable conditions by forming pseudo tissue-like microcolonies.
"The capacity to survive long periods of suspended metabolism allows free-living ascomycetes to remain as colonies made up of pseudo tissue-like microcolonies comprising 100–500 cells for several decades until conditions favourable to further growth return." (Gorbushina 2007:1620)
Learn more about this functional adaptation.
References
- Gorbushina, A. A. 2007. Life on the rocks. Environmental Microbiology. 9(7): 1613-1631.
Contribute
Explore
|
Trichogaster microlepis (Günther, 1861) Moonbeam gourami |
|
Cerapachys vespula (Weber, 1949) |
|
Notarius biffi Betancur-R & Acero P., 2004 Sea-catfish |
|
Tapinoma atriceps Emery, 1888 |
|
Osmanthus fragrans Lour. Sweet osmanthus |
"Ascomycota". Encyclopedia of Life, available from "http://www.eol.org/pages/5577". Accessed
22 Mar 2010.
