Lifespan of Fungus

In general, fungi have a very short life span, though it differs greatly from species to species. Some types may live as short as a day, while others survive anywhere between a week and a month. The life cycle of a fungus begins as a spore and lasts until germination.

Spore Development

Fungi begin their life as spores that are released from a fully grown fungi. After they are released, the cells of the spore divide and spread into hyphae. When hyphae formed from spores released by two different fungi meet, they may fuse together to create a single cell with two nuclei.

Mushroom

Once the two-nucleus cells, also called dikaryons, have matured, they develop into a fruiting body known as a mushroom. The nuclei of the cells in the mushroom will undergo further divisions and eventually form haploid cells--cells with a single set of chromosomes--that then divide through meiosis and create spores.

Death

Once a fungus has completed creating spores through meiosis, it effectively dies. The spores spread and the remaining stalk and hyphae do not got through another fruiting process. The remnants of the fungus then decompose in the soil.

Related Articles

What Is a Tetrad in Microbiology?
Parts of a Fungus
How Do Mushrooms Reproduce?
Five Types of Asexual Reproduction
Septate vs. Non-Septate Hyphae
Three Mechanisms of Genetic Recombination in Prokaryotes
What Is the Goal of Mitosis?
How Do Fungi Reproduce?
How Do Algae Reproduce?
Similarities Between Fungi & Algae
Three Reasons Why Cell Division Is Important
Differences Between Protista & Monera
How Does the Amoeba Reproduce?
The Difference Between Anaphase, Interphase, Metaphase...
Types of Fungi Plants
What Happens to a Cell If It Does Not Copy DNA Chromosomes...
Why Do Germinating Peas Undergo Cellular Respiration?
What Are Three Primary Purposes of Mitosis?
The Average Life Span of Skeletal Muscle Cells

Dont Go!

We Have More Great Sciencing Articles!