Introduction to Fungi, Third Edition

EUAGARICS CLADE
543
Fig19.16 Basidiocarps in the euagarics clade (2). (a,b) Schizophyllum commune. (a) Cluster of fruit bodies growing through the plastic
covering of a silage bale. (b) Basidiocarp as seen from below. (c) Volvariella speciosa. Note the presence of a volva and the absence
of a ring. (d) Volvariella surrecta, a mycoparasite fruiting on basidiocarps of Clitocybe nebularis.(e)Panaeolus sphinctrinus.
years and revive when placed in a moist
environment. Water uptake occurs especially
through the hairy upper surface, and the gills
straighten out as the hymenium expands
within 2 3 h. Spore discharge commences after
3 4 h, and basidia are readily seen in hand
sections, rendering S. commune a suitable object
for microscopic examination if classes have to be
held out of season.
Schizophyllum commune is a ‘model’ fungus
with a very extensive literature. It has been
studied in detail by workers interested in its
mating system, which is tetrapolar with complex
A and B loci, each composed of two sub-loci,
a and b. Several alleles have been identified at
each sub-locus, creating over 20 000 mating
type specificities (see p. 506). Other aspects of
its biology which have been studied in depth