Pilobolus crystallinus

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Pilobolus crystallinus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Fungi Phylum: Zygomycota Class: Zygomycetes Order: Mucorales Family: Pilobolaceae Genus: Pilobolus Species: P. crystallinus
Binomial name
Pilobolus crystallinus var. crystallinus (F.H. Wigg.)Tode(1784)

Description and significance

Pilobolus crystallinus is a fungus belonging to the mucorales order and according to Wikipedia it is also referred to as the “Dung Cannon” or the “Hat Thrower” because these fungus are found in the feces of herbivorous animals and they grows 2-4 centimeters tall but they have pressure in their vesicle which allows them to shoot their spores 2 meters away reaching speed of about 0-45mph during the first millimeter of travel. This fungus grows under the surface where oxygen concentration is low because oxygen prevents radial growth of its hyphae. McVickar and Ootaki et al. has divided the development of pilobolus crystallinus into six stages. In the first stage there is elongation of the sporangiophore at the apex without rotation which leads to the second stage where a sporangium develops from the sporangiophore. In the third stage no growth occurs and in the fourth stage a subsporangial vesice can be seen expanding under the sporangium. Stage five spore maturation occurs and the hypha region below the subsporangial vesicle elongates. In the last stage, stage six the subsporangial vesicle bursts and the sporangium are releases into the air. This is a time lapse video pilobolus crystallinus development which was documented by Dave Kalb and Kent Loeffler from Cornell University

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Cell structure and metabolism

Scanning and transmission electron microscope has been used to study the structure and surface of pilobolus crystallinus. There are two different sizes of calcium oxalate crystals some large and some small which covers the surface of the sporangium. The large crystals surround spines that have a central pore and serves as protection. This species of fungus has a vesicle that has a mucus like substance which allows the spores that stick to vegetation such as grass where it can then eaten by animals. It travels through the digestive systems of animals and begins it growth in their feces.