Fungalpedia – Note 139 Sphaerobolus
Sphaerobolus Tode
Citation if using this entry: Bera et al. (in prep) Basidiomycota. Mycosphere
Index Fungorum, Facesoffungi, MycoBank, GenBank, Fig. 1
Basidiomycota, Agaricomycetes, Geastrales, Geastraceae
The name “Sphaerobolus” signifies the ability of the fungus to eject glebae to a noteworthy distance (Geml et al. 2005a). The direction to eject the gleba is always towards the brightest source of light in the environment (Walker 1927, Buller 1933). This unique genus was first described by Pier Antonio Micheli in 1729 as Carpobolus P. Micheli but later Tode established it as Sphaerobolus (Vasava et al. 2021). The production of basidiospores in an enclosed structure and passive spore discharge mechanism make the genus a member of the class Gasteromycetes (Hibbett et al. 2007). However, the systematic position of Sphaerobolus has been quite ambivalent. The genus has been periodically placed under several orders such as Nidulariales (Dring 1973, Ulloa & Hanlin 2000), Sclerodermatales (Hawksworth et al. 1996), and Lycoperdales or Phallales (Kirk et al. 2001). Regardless of this, the phylogenetic studies revealed that Sphaerobolus belongs to the gomphoid-phalloid clade with a close relationship with the representative genera of the clade: Clavariadelphus Donk , Gautieria Vittad., Geastrum Pers., Gomphus Pers., Phallus Junius ex L., Pseudocolus Lloyd , Ramaria Fr. ex Bonord. etc. (Hibbett et al. 1997, Moncalvo et al. 2002, Geml et al. 2005a, b). Currently, Sphaerobolus is placed under the order Geastrales (Hibbett et al. 1997, Moncalvo et al. 2002, Geml et al. 2005a, Hosaka et al. 2006, Hibbett et al. 2007). The growth and reproductive mechanism of this genus have previously been extensively studied (Walker & Anderson 1925, Walker 1927, Buller 1933, Alasoadura 1963, Ingold & Peach 1970, Ingold 1971, 1972, Dykstra 1982, Fletcher & Cooke 1984, Geml et al. 2005a, Sakes et al. 2016). Commonly known as the “artillery fungus”, Sphaerobolus has whitish to orange, spherical basidiocarps diameter of 1–2 mm containing the gleba or peridiole (Geml et al. 2005a). The spores inside the gleba are of two types: thick-walled uninucleate basidiospores and thin-walled bi- or multinucleate asexual spores (elongated gemmae) (Walker 1927, Ingold 1972, Geml et al. 2005a). These two types of spores are crucial in both lignocolous and coprophilous survival strategy (Geml et al. 2005a). The glebae after ejection from the basidiocarp have a long-term survival mechanism (Walker 1927). The colonization of the substrate initiates after the germination of the glebae. This colonization is associated with the digestion of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin of the substrate which eventually causes the white rot (Geml et al. 2005a). After the completion of colonization, phototropic fruit bodies are produced orienting themselves towards the brightest source of light (Geml et al. 2005a). Sphaerobolus has been reported from Australia (Aplin 1961), USA (Coker & Couch 1974, Ellis & Ellis 1990, Geml et al. 2005a), Europe (Breitenbach & Kränzlin 1986), Africa (Calonge & Daniels 1998), Myanmar (Hosaka et al. 2020) and India (Butler & Bisby 1931, Vasava et al. 2021) referring to its cosmopolitan habitat. This genus is mostly found on dung, decaying wood, or vegetative litter (Miller & Miller 1988). Presently, four species of the genus, Sphaerobolus stellatus (Tode) Pers., S. brunneocarneus Rick, S. ingoldii Geml, D.D. Davis & Geiser, and S. jaysukhianus A.M. Vasava, R.S. Patel & K.S. Rajput is known worldwide (Hawksworth et al. 1996, Geml et al. 2005a, Vasava et al. 2021).
Type species: Sphaerobolus stellatus (Tode) Pers.
Other accepted species: S. brunneocarneus Rick
S. ingoldii Geml, D.D. Davis & Geiser
S. jaysukhianus A.M. Vasava, R.S. Patel & K.S. Rajput
Figure 1. Sphaerobolus stellatus. a, b. Basidiomata. c. Basidiospores. Drawn from Hermawan & Maulana 2020.
References
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Entry by
Ishika Bera, Center of Excellence in Fungal Research, Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai 57100, Thailand
(Edited by Kevin D Hyde)
Published online 8 September 2023