One Fearsome Fungus
Crinipellis perniciosa mushroom
This pink beauty has all the splendor a rose in bloom, but in fact it’s a fungus, and a deadly one at that.
Basidiocarps, like the fan-shaped structure on this inch-wide Crinipellis perniciosa mushroom, are the spore- bearing structures of fungi. Spores serve the same role in the fungal life cycle that seeds do in the life cycle of a plant. The difference is that seeds contain embryos, miniature versions of the plant. Spores, on the other hand, contain only the genetic material of the parent organism. Mosses, oomycetes, slime molds, and fungi all reproduce with spores.
The beauty of this fungus belies its pestilence. It is, in fact, a disease that spreads by smothering plants and stealing the light and nutrients they need to grow. Spores released from Crinipellis perniciosa can infect cacao trees and dramatically reduce yields from the plants that produce cocoa and chocolate products (down with Crinnipellis!).
Also known as witches broom, the fungus is indigenous to the Amazon and is now present in most of the cocoa growing regions in South America and the Caribbean. In parts of Brazil, yields decreased by 60 percent between 1990 and 1994 because of the disease. Luckily for Super Fudge Chunk fans everywhere, South American farmers have since implemented a control program that may prevent the fungus’ future spread.
For now, we’re hoarding the Cocoa Puffs.
Photo by Scott Bauer, USDA.
Tags: Biology, fungus fungi
