Basidiospores Species Information

200+ species. Ubiquitous, Cosmopolitan, General Information

Basidiospores Scientific Information

Spores of basidiomycetes are characterized by some sort of attachment peg on its surface that functions in anchoring the spore to the basidium. Some basidiospore may also have an apical pore present. Another unique aspect of basidiospores is their bilateral symmetry. These spores occur individually, without separations called septa between cells, and typically range in form from spherical to oval to to oblong, to ellipsoid or cylindrical. The surface of the spore can be fairly smooth, or it can be ornamented to a varying degree.

Basidiospores Growth Characteristics

Formation:Basidiomycetes form sexual spores on appendages produced externally. A group of four spores, each having an attachment peg, form on a structure called a basidium that protrudes from a larger fruiting body. These spores serve as the main air dispersal units for the fungi. The structure of the spore complex can develop in various manners resulting in different appearances.

one of the most commonly found molds. Often produces microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOC's) that give the distictive heavy, musty odor.

Where is Basidiospores found?

Outside it is often found growing in soil, decaying plant debris, compost piles and fruit rot.

Inside it is often found growing indoors on water damaged building materials (chipboard/OSB, plywood, wallpaper, glue) as well as on food items (dried foods, cheeses, fruits, herbs, spices, cereals)

Is Basidiospores Allergenic?

This mold can act as an allergen. Some people may experience hay fever, asthma, hypersensitivity pneumonitis: cheese washer's lung, woodman's lung, moldy wall hypersensitivity.

Toxins Produced by Basidiospores

This mold does produce toxins: these include: penicillic acid, peptide nephrotoxin, viomellein, xanthomegin, xanthocillin X, mycophenolic acid, roquefortine C & D, citrinin, penicillin, cyclopiazonic acid, isofumigaclavine A, penitrem A, decumbin, patulin citreoviridin, griseofulvin, verruculogen, ochratoxin, chrysogine, and meleagrin.

Basidiospores Health Effects

It is rare that this mold is a pathogen that presents risk to humans.

Basidiospores Uses

Industrially, this mold is used in roquefort and camembert cheese, salami-sausages starter culture; anti-bacterial antimicrobial penicillin, and anti-fungal antimicrobial griseofulvin.

How to test for / identify the presence of Basidiospores

In air sampling this mold is indistinguishable from Aspergillus species

In direct sampling, it is easily identified if sporulating structures are observed, otherwise may be indestiguishable from Aspergillus species

Is Basidiospores a "black mold"