Spore Formation - Method, Diagram and Examples (2024)

Spores are haploid unicellular bodies that are produced as a result of sexual or asexual reproduction in eukaryotic organsims such as algae, bacteria, fungi and some plants. The process of formation of spores is referred to as sporogenesis.

Spores are reproductive cells that are capable of giving rise to a new organism as compared to gametes that require to fuse with another gamete to give rise to new individuals.

Below is a diagram of a fungal species showing formation of spore through asexual reproduction.

Spore Formation - Method, Diagram and Examples (1)

Examples

  • In fungi, the spores are formed on a reproductive knob-like structure known as the sporangium. They produce minute haploid spores that grow into new organisms in favourable conditions. E.g., Aspergillus, Penicillium.
  • In bacteria, another type of spores called endospores are formed as a result of unfavourable conditions. It is a non-reproductive structure that is not a true spore. E.g., Bacillus, Clostridium.
  • In plants, spore formation is the sole means of asexual reproduction. Plants follow an alternation of generation life cycle, where diploid sporophyte produces haploid spores and ultimately gives rise to haploid gametophyte. E.g., liverworts, mosses and hornworts.

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Spore Formation - Method, Diagram and Examples (2024)

FAQs

What is spore formation with example and diagram? ›

In plants, spore formation is the sole means of asexual reproduction. Plants follow an alternation of generation life cycle, where diploid sporophyte produces haploid spores and ultimately gives rise to haploid gametophyte. E.g., liverworts, mosses and hornworts.

What are 3 organisms that use spore formation? ›

In biology, a spore is a unit of sexual (in fungi) or asexual reproduction that may be adapted for dispersal and for survival, often for extended periods of time, in unfavourable conditions. Spores form part of the life cycles of many plants, algae, fungi and protozoa.

What are the processes in spore formation? ›

Formation of reproductive spores

Sporogenesis occurs in reproductive structures termed sporangia. The process involves sporogenous cells (sporocytes, also called spore mother cells) undergoing cell division to give rise to spores.

What are some examples of plants that reproduce by spore formation? ›

Plants that reproduce using spores include Ferns (Option A), Mosses (Option B) and Liverworts (Option C). These are primitive plants. The trick is to remember that these plants do not have stems. Also, they have spots and fruiting bodies (liverwort picture) that produce spores.

What are 2 examples of spore forming bacteria? ›

Bacteria of the genus Clostridium, as well as many of the contaminants of the class Bacilli (Table ​1), including Bacillus, Anoxybacillus, Geobacillus, Lysinibacillus, Brevibacillus, and Paenibacillus, have a considerable advantage due to being capable of forming stress-resistant endospores.

What is a spore example? ›

Examples of spores can be listed based on the organisms producing them. For instance, fungi spores include zygospores, basidiospores, conidiophores, and ascospores. Bacteria spores include endospores, exospores, and myxospores. Spores produced by higher plants are microspores and megaspores.

Which animal reproduces by spore formation? ›

The organisms like Rhizopus, mushroom, etc., replicate by forming the spores. In general, the spores get involved in the asexual reproduction of some organisms like bacteria, yeast, fungi, and plants.

What are the 5 types of asexual spores in fungi? ›

Some types of asexual spores in fungi reproduction include Conidia, Sporangiospores, Blastospores, Arthrospores, and Chlamydospores.

What are the 5 spore bearing plants? ›

Ferns, lycophytes, mosses, liverworts, and hornworts (the latter three are collectively termed bryophytes) reproduce via spores.

What triggers spore formation? ›

For most species, sporulation is caused by conditions unfavorable for growth, such as nutrient depletion. Both internal and external signals can signal the vegetative cell to cease growth and form a less metabolically demanding and more resistant state that can survive nutrient poor conditions.

What is the method of spore production? ›

Spores are generally produced by solid-state fermentation (SSF) on wheat grains [6,8,9,11]. SSF has two main advantages over submerged liquid fermentation.

What is the sequence of spore formation? ›

The sequence of spore production in Puccinia is Aeciospore, Uredospore, Teliospore, Basidiospore, Pycniospore. Note: The plants other than wheat infected by the fungi are cereals such as Rye and Oats. And due to the requirement of two hosts for completion of the life cycle, it is known as a heteroecious host.

How do spores spread? ›

Spores are disseminated through environmental factors. Wind, water, or animal carriage allow spores to be spread ubiquitously throughout the environment. Spores will break dormancy and begin to germinate once exposed to favorable conditions.

What is a short note on spore formation? ›

Spore Formation is an Asexual Reproduction technique. Many Spores are housed in sacs known as Sporangia. The plants produce hundreds of spores and the spore sac bursts. These spores are dispersed into the air, where they germinate and create a new plant under favorable conditions.

What is the difference between a seed and a spore? ›

Answer and Explanation:

Spores are single-celled, whereas the seeds are multicellular. The spores are present underneath the leaves of non-flowering plants, whereas seeds are found within the fruits. Seeds have stored food in their endosperm, while spores do not, which means they require specific conditions to ...

Is mushroom an example of spore formation? ›

Rhizopus, mushroom etc., reproduce by spore formation.

What is an example of fragmentation and spore formation? ›

Organisms choose to reproduce asexually by different means. Some of the asexual methods are binary fission (e.g. Amoeba, bacteria), budding (e.g. Hydra), fragmentation (e.g. Planaria), spore formation (e.g. ferns) and vegetative propagation (e.g. Onion).

What are the examples of fungal spores? ›

Types of fungus spores can be categorised into asexual (mitospores) and sexual (meiospores). Examples of mitospores include conidia, arthrospores, chlamydospores, and sporangiospores. Examples of meiospores are ascospores, basidiospores and zygospores.

What are the advantages of spore formation? ›

As spores are composed of thick walls, hence can easily sustain harsh conditions and prevent dehydration of cells. Reproduction via spore formation is quick, and many organisms germinate at once, hence this leads to a substantial increase and survival of species population.

References

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