A ballistospore or ballistoconidia is a
spore
In biology, a spore is a unit of sexual reproduction, sexual (in fungi) or asexual reproduction that may be adapted for biological dispersal, dispersal and for survival, often for extended periods of time, in unfavourable conditions. Spores fo ...
that is discharged into the air from a living being, usually a species of
fungus
A fungus (: fungi , , , or ; or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and mold (fungus), molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as one ...
. With fungi, most types of
basidiospore
A basidiospore is a reproductive spore produced by basidiomycete fungi, a grouping that includes mushrooms, shelf fungi, rusts, and smuts. Basidiospores typically each contain one haploid
Ploidy () is the number of complete sets of chromos ...
s formed on
basidia are discharged into the air from the tips of
sterigmata
In biology, a sterigma (: sterigmata) is a small supporting structure.
It commonly refers to an extension of the basidium (the spore-bearing cells) consisting of a basal filamentous part and a slender projection which carries a spore at the tip ...
. At least 30 thousand species of mushrooms,
basidiomycete
Basidiomycota () is one of two large divisions that, together with the Ascomycota, constitute the subkingdom Dikarya (often referred to as the "higher fungi") within the kingdom Fungi. Members are known as basidiomycetes. More specifically, Basid ...
yeasts, and other fungal groups may discharge ballistospores, sometimes at initial accelerations exceeding 10 thousand times
''g''.
References
Fungal morphology and anatomy
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