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Morchella - Vegetative Structure

Morchella, commonly known as true morel, is a saprophytic fungus belonging to the family Morchellaceae and is found in humus-rich soil. Its vegetative structure includes a profusely branched mycelium that absorbs nutrients, while the fruiting body, or ascocarp, is cup-shaped and consists of a stalk and a hollow cap. The development of the fruiting body involves the formation of a hyphal-knot that grows into a stalked structure, characterized by ridges and depressions that increase its fertile surface.

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1K views9 pages

Morchella - Vegetative Structure

Morchella, commonly known as true morel, is a saprophytic fungus belonging to the family Morchellaceae and is found in humus-rich soil. Its vegetative structure includes a profusely branched mycelium that absorbs nutrients, while the fruiting body, or ascocarp, is cup-shaped and consists of a stalk and a hollow cap. The development of the fruiting body involves the formation of a hyphal-knot that grows into a stalked structure, characterized by ridges and depressions that increase its fertile surface.

Uploaded by

Pranjal Nain
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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MORCHELLA- VEGETATIVE STRUCTURE

Dr. VINOD KUMARI


Assistant professor (Botany)
Government Dungar College, Bikaner
SYSTEMATIC POSITION
• Kingdom - Mycota
• Division - Eumycota
• Sub- division – Ascomycotina
• Class - Discomycetes
• Order - Pezizales
• Family - Morchellaceae
• Genus - Morchella
 Morchella is commonly known as true morel,
Sponge mushroom or Guchhi.
 It is a Saprophytic Fungus.
 Morchella occurs mainly on humus-rich soil and
commonly grows on dead leaves and branches
of deciduous trees.
 The fruiting body of Morchella is used as
delicacy.
 In India, the genus is represented by eight
species.
 Morchella deliciosa and Morchella esculenta are
widely grown in Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh,
Himachal Pradesh and Punjab.
VEGETATIVE STRUCTURE
• The mycelium of Morchella is inconspicuous.
• It grows few centimeter deep in the
substratum.
• The mycelium is profusely branched loosely
interwoven and septate.
• The hyphal cells are multinucleate.
• The subterranean mycelium absorbs nutrients
from the substratum.
• The aerial fruiting body of develop on the
surface after rainy season.
MORCHELLA- APOTHECIUM
 The fruiting body ascocarp is
cup shaped apothecium.
 The mature ascocarp is 3-13
cm in length.
 It is differentiated into stalk
like structure, Stipe and a
hollow cap, the Pileus.
 This Stipe and Pileus are
nearly of same length.
 The Stipe is thick fleshy and
hollow structure. It is light
yellow coloured measuring
1-2 cm. in diameter.
 The Pileus is brown or black
conical structure.
 The Pileus is the fertile part
of the ascocarp.

A- Entire B- Longitudinal Section


DEVELOPMENT OF FRUITING BODY
• The mycelium grows rapidly under favourable condition when
sufficient food material is available.
• The hyphae aggregates under the soil surface and form a
compact structure known as hyphal-Knot.
• The hyphal-Knot develops into a stalked fruiting body under
favourable growth conditions.
• The young fruiting body is cup shaped.
• The fruiting body develops ridges and depressions and thus
becomes folded this is due to the irregular growth of hymeneal
surface.
• The hymenium appears like a sponge at this state .
• The folds in the hymeneal layer increase the fertile surface of the
fruiting body
INTERNAL STRUCTURE OF ASCOCARP
Suggested Readings
THANK YOU

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