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Dispersal of fungal spores on a cooperatively generated wind
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Roper, Marcus, Seminara, Agnese, Bandi, M. M., Cobb, Ann, Dillard, Helene R. and Pringle, Anne (2010) Dispersal of fungal spores on a cooperatively generated wind. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Vol.107 (No.41). pp. 17474-17479. doi:10.1073/pnas.1003577107 ISSN 0027-8424.
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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1003577107
Abstract
Because of their microscopic size, the forcibly ejected spores of ascomycete fungi are quickly brought to rest by drag. Nonetheless some apothecial species, including the pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, disperse with astonishing rapidity between ephemeral habitats. Here we show that by synchronizing the ejection of thousands of spores, these fungi create a flow of air that carries spores through the nearly still air surrounding the apothecium, around intervening obstacles, and to atmospheric currents and new infection sites. High-speed imaging shows that synchronization is self-organized and likely triggered by mechanical stresses. Although many spores are sacrificed to produce the favorable airflow, creating the potential for conflict among spores, the geometry of the spore jet physically targets benefits of the airflow to spores that cooperate maximally in its production. The ability to manipulate a local fluid environment to enhance spore dispersal is a previously overlooked feature of the biology of fungal pathogens, and almost certainly shapes the virulence of species including S. sclerotiorum. Synchronous spore ejection may also provide a model for the evolution of stable, self-organized behaviors.
Item Type: | Journal Article | ||||
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Subjects: | Q Science | ||||
Divisions: | Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Science > Mathematics | ||||
Journal or Publication Title: | Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America | ||||
Publisher: | National Academy of Sciences | ||||
ISSN: | 0027-8424 | ||||
Official Date: | 12 October 2010 | ||||
Dates: |
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Volume: | Vol.107 | ||||
Number: | No.41 | ||||
Number of Pages: | 6 | ||||
Page Range: | pp. 17474-17479 | ||||
DOI: | 10.1073/pnas.1003577107 | ||||
Status: | Peer Reviewed | ||||
Publication Status: | Published | ||||
Access rights to Published version: | Restricted or Subscription Access | ||||
Funder: | Miller Institute for Basic Research in Science, European Union, Harvard University |
Data sourced from Thomson Reuters' Web of Knowledge
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