Life Cycle of Lingzhi Mushroom

Life Cycle and Reproduction

In the summer and fall, the fruiting bodies or mushroom of G. lucidum release millions of spores into the air.  

G. lucidium pores courtesy of Tom Volk

These spores get blown into new places and if the conditions are suitable, the spore is able to germinate and a primary hypha gets formed.  This new primary hypha must find a mate to continue on in the growth cycle.  This process is comparable to a sperm and egg fusing into a more complete organism, although the nuclei of the fungi do not fuse as they would in animal fertilization.  Instead, this process is called plasmogamy, meaning that the cytoplasms fuse together.  The fungus is now in a dikaryon state(n+n).  The fungus can not produce secondary hypha to help with growth.  This secondary hypha produces a very strong decomposing chemical called hydrolase to help break down wood.  As long as the wood source is sufficient, the secondary hypha can continue to grow for many years.  These hyphae can branch out in order to increase surface area for nutrient uptake.  All of these hyphae combined together are known as a mycelium.

Basic Life Cycle of Ganoderma Lucidum Created by Zac Mestelle

When conditions finally become unsuitable for optimal growth; the fungus must produce a fruiting body to release sexual spores that can be spread to more favorable conditions.  These fruiting bodies, more commonly known as mushrooms, produce basidium.  It is in these club-shaped structures that the nuclei finally combine in the process called karyogamy (2n).  Then through the process of meiosis, the diploid cells are broken down into four haploids (n) spores.  These spores get released from the basidium when this process is complete.  In G. lucidum, the basidium is found on the underside of the fruiting body.  The topside is normally a tougher structure and isn’t responsible for releasing any spores.  Once these spores are released into the air, the cycle can begin again.

Variety of Fruiting Bodies Courtesy of Tom Volk

It should be noted that G. ludicum can come in many different colors.  Ganoderma lucidum also known as Reishi in Japanese cultures can come in shades of red, purple, white, blue, yellow, and black.  Typically young mushrooms show shades of white and yellow as they are developing.  Another interesting fact is that the fruiting body can also come in a variety of forms.  One is the typical mushroom, where the very top or cap is a semicircle with a thinner stem leading up to it.  Another form is called conk or shelf mushroom.  This kidney-shaped mushroom is what is typically found growing on the sides of dead trees.  The final form that is found in the antler-shaped fruiting body called Rokkaku-Reishi.  This normally is formed when there are low light conditions and varying carbon dioxide levels in the air.

Click on Interactions to find out how these fungi interact with other organisms.


References:

https://www.britannica.com/science/karyogamy
http://botit.botany.wisc.edu/toms_fungi/