Peziza: Classification, Structure and Reproduction

Table of Contents

Peziza is a saprophytic fungus that belongs to the division Ascomycota. It is commonly known as the cup fungus. Around 100 species of the genera are known. The most common Indian species are P. domiciliana, P. echinospora, P. ampliata, P. cerea, P. arvernensis, and P. badia. Most of the species are inedible and are difficult to differentiate unless observed under a microscope.

Classification

Peziza Structure

• It is a coprophilous fungi that is found growing on dung, rotting woods and forest soil rich in humus while some species also grow on charred and burnt woods.
• The species Peziza vesiculosa is considered poisonous. It has noticeably larger cups.
• The fruiting body of Peziza is known as ascocarp. It is a cup-shaped structure and hence the name cup fungi.
• The mycelium is well developed, and is made up of a thick network of hyphae.
• They are mostly perennial in nature.
• The hyphae is septate and branched and the cells are uninucleate.
• The hyphae are not visible, they usually remain hidden as they form dense and complex networks within the substratum (dung, wood, humus rich soil) they grow upon.
• The fruiting bodies are cup-shaped and are known as ascocarp or apothecium. They lie well above the surface and are clearly visible.

Reproduction

Asexual Reproduction

Asexual reproduction in Peziza takes place by the means of conidia and chlamydospores. The conidial spores are formed exogenously on the tips of conidiophores. Each spore then germinates to give rise to a new mycelium.

The chlamydospores are resting, thick-walled cells that are borne on the hyphae. As favourable conditions are resumed, the spores germinate and give rise to new mycelium.

Refer: Sexual Reproduction In Fungi

Sexual Reproduction

Sexual reproduction in Peziza is simple. Two vegetatve cells of the hyphae pair up to form a dikaryon. This fusion can either be somatogamous (fusion of two adjacent hyphae) or autogamous (fusion of two adjacent vegetative cells on the same hyphae).

The dikaryons give rise to ascogenous hyphae. All the cells in this hyphae are septate, branched and binucleate. The terminal cell of the ascogenous hyphae becomes the ascus mother cell. This represents the dikaryotic phase of Peziza.

The two nuclei in the ascus mother cell fuse and form a synkaryon. The young ascus with the synkaryon is characteristic of the transitory diplophase of Peziza.

The synkaryon in the young ascus undergoes meiotic and mitotic divisions to form eight haploid nuclei that are arranged into ascospores in a mature ascus.

The mature ascus has elongated cylindrical cells. It is lined with a layer of cytoplasm. The ascus has a central vacuole which is filled with sap, it houses the ascospores.

Each asci lay side by side in the cup-shaped apothecium. Between the asci are present strike hyphae called paraphyses. The remaining Peziza apothecium is heavily interwoven with branched hyphae that form pseudoparenchymatous tissues.

The ascocarps or the fruiting bodies are large and orange-coloured. They germinate to give rise to new mycelium.

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