Chlorociboria aeruginascens

BROCSMAN · #1 (**permalink**) 21-11-2009, 05:13 PM

I found this recently while out walking with a botanist. She wanted to know what the colouring was caused by, and why this fungus goes to the trouble of producing it, arguing that it costs an organism a lot of resources to do this, and in the plant world, this would only be done if it provided some competitive advantage in the process of natural selection, eg for defence or to aid reproduction.

I had no idea about any of those things. That green suggests copper or some other metal, but is that correct? Can someone enlighten me?

fairplay · #2 (**permalink**) 21-11-2009, 08:55 PM

I assume Chloro is derived from the word 'chlorophyll' and that the blue-green pigments are the same as found in certain Stropharia species.

Reading from 'Mushrooms & Toastools' by J.Ramsbottom he says "The pigment is xylindeine, a phenanthrene (quinone) derivative. Another derivative is thelephoric acid which gives the brown colour to many species of Thelephora and some species of Hydnum"

Hope that's enlightened you a little and if you can pronounce those big words you will certainly impress your botanist friend.

Neil.

BROCSMAN · #3 (**permalink**) 21-11-2009, 09:33 PM

I don't have any problems with pronunciation, only with microbiology. The reference to xylindeine elsewhere seems to suggest a link to zinc. If this fungus is taking up metals like zinc the question still remains, why? Is this a defensive procedure? What advantages accrue to it from doing so?