5/8/12 Fungi

Today we began our discussion of fungi and went out around the UW campus to discuss some of the more common species that occupy this condensed area. Before we went outside to attempt to identify some of these local species, we discussed the biological structures that enable fungi to thrive.
We began this discussion by establishing that fungi produce a significant amount of spores. Fungi also are decomposers of dead organic material. the decomposition of woody materials is very important for fungi because fungi rely on accessing the cellulose and hemicellulose and pectin particles within wood. There are three main types of fungi, which are soft rot, brown rot, and white rot fungi. White rot fungi can strip lignan and then can access the carbon in cellulose, hemicellulose and pectin. Most fungi live in wood chips in branched, tube-like systems (the tubes are called hypha/ hyphae (Mycellium). These tubes absorb a carbon compound like glucose through their tips. Fungi carry out the process of decomposition by producing a serious of enzymes, which they pump into the environment to break down glucose and then the cycle begins again.
Out in the field on the University of Washington campus, we first observed Agrogybe praecox. I learned that it is important to look for bruising, color, texture, and cracking on the caps of mushrooms to be able to classify them. I also learned that the veil tissue is an indicator that the mushroom is young. Mushrooms with the veil tissue still in tact are younger than mushrooms without veil tissue.
Next, we observed an Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus), which is an aggressively growing, White rot mushroom. Then we observed a Tremetes versicolor (white rot) mushroom as well as a Button mushroom and Coprinus lagopus mushroom as well.
It was interesting to observe the variety mushroom species on the University of Washington campus alone and it caused me to think about the vast amount of mushroom species that undoubtedly exist in the Puget Sound Region.
Species List:
Tremetes versicolor
Pleurotus Plumonarius
Agaricus Bisporus
Agrogybe praecox
Agrogybe smilfii
Gano Dorma applanatone
Schizaphyllun Camune
Coprinus lagopus

Posted on June 3, 2012 01:27 AM by