Acervulus

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Acervulus

Acervulus (pronounced as a·cer·vu·lus) is a term used in mycology to describe a type of fungal fruiting body or sporocarp. The term is derived from the Latin word acervus, meaning a heap or pile, which refers to the clustered nature of these structures.

Definition

An acervulus is a small, cushion-shaped, asexual fruiting body that forms on the surface of plant tissues infected by certain types of fungi. It is typically flat or slightly convex, and is composed of a dense mass of hyphae from which conidia (asexual spores) are produced. The conidia are then dispersed to infect other plants.

Function

The primary function of an acervulus is to produce and disperse conidia. These asexual spores play a crucial role in the life cycle of the fungus, allowing it to spread and colonize new hosts. The acervulus is therefore an important structure in the propagation of many plant-pathogenic fungi.

Related Terms

  • Conidia: Asexual spores produced by certain fungi.
  • Hyphae: The branching filaments that make up the mycelium (body) of a fungus.
  • Mycelium: The vegetative part of a fungus, consisting of a network of fine white filaments (hyphae).
  • Sporocarp: A multicellular structure on which spore-producing structures, such as basidia or asci, are borne.
  • Mycology: The scientific study of fungi.

Etymology

The term acervulus is derived from the Latin acervus, which means a heap or pile. This refers to the clustered, heap-like appearance of these fungal structures.

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