What are the spores

What are the spores

By Dr. Kyle Muller

The spore word is often used without many times knowing exactly what defines. We know that it is a type of playback of plants but … What are their most important characteristics? What exactly are they for? Only plants have spores? Doubts are diverse around them and some beliefs are false; as only plants use them. Did you know that fungi and other living beings also depend on the use of spores?

If you want to learn more about these, accompany us in this Ecology Verde article in which we tell you What are the sporeswhat are they use for and what living beings have them.

What are spores and what are they for

The spore is a reproductive cell That, mainly, some plants and fungi can produce and have the ability to be divided successively to end up forming a new individual. These are cells that do not need any other individual to divide and end up forming a new plant or fungus, so they are part of a type of asexual reproduction.

The Plants spores They usually occur in structures that are called Esporangios. Not all plants can be reproduced by spores; They just do the SporophysThis is what species that can resort to this type of reproduction are called. In this other ecology article, you can know the plants with asexual reproduction: characteristics and examples.

What are the spores - what are the spores and what they are for

Plants that are reproduced by spores

All non -vascular plants, which are the most primitive, are reproduced by spores. This is the oldest reproduction mechanism that can be found in the plant kingdom. Are Non -vascular plants are:

Mosses, briophyte plants with spores

Mosses tend to form dense and thick mantles that upholster the surfaces on which they are fixed with their curls, which are the small structures that make the root function. They are very important because they help minimize soil erosion.

BRIOPHITS: Hepatic and Antoceros

The hepatic, on the other hand, receive their name from their resemblance to the organ of the human liver. They tend to occupy large surfaces, and grow in areas without sun and wet. Antoceros are plants of very small size, which never exceed heights of more than 3 cm. Their structures are primitive and simple, and few species that represent them are remarkably.

Pteridophyte plants

However, briophytes are not the only plants to reproduce by spores: pteridophytes are vascular plants and also use this reproduction method, since they lack flowers and seeds. The most representative of pteridophytes are ferns, which have practically 12,000 species, in addition to horse tails and some more.

Pteridophytes are also called lower vascular plants, since although they have roots, these are less developed than in angiosperms and gym plants.

In these other articles we talk to you in detail of the briophyte plants: examples and characteristics and pteridophyte plants: what are, types and examples.

What are the spores - plants that are reproduced by spores

Algae that have spores

Algae can reproduce both sexual and asexual. In the case of the asexual reproductionthese are useful for it. Simple algae use spores In a process that keeps many similarities with the asexual phase of reproduction in plants, using sea currents instead of aerial to spread their spores through the territory.

Learn more about them in this other post on similarities and differences between plants and algae.

Fungi spores

Fungi are also another group that uses spores for reproduction. These, in fact, are often classified by their own spores producing structures in fungi: These are some of them according to this classification:

  • ASCOSPORA: They are those fungi that produce their spores in Ascas, a type of sexual cell.
  • Basidiospora: These fungi produce their spores in basidia, microscopic structures that can be found in them.
  • CONIDER: They are a type of asexual spores that are produced in the so -called conidiophores.
  • ECIDIOSPORA: These spores occur in the Puccinia genre, in which they alternate in their production with basidioso.
  • Esporangiospora: produced, as in plants, in sporangia.
  • Glomerospora: These spores are produced only by glomeromycetes, a fungal division.
  • Teliospora: They occur in some basidia.
  • ZGOSPORA: These originate in Zigosporangios.
  • Zoospora: Only some primitive fungi such as opistosporidios and removal produce these flagellated type.

What are the spores - the spores of fungi

Bacterial spores

Finally, Some bacteria have the ability to reproduce by spores. In these cases, it is common for each cell to develop a single spore and use this type of reproduction as a subsistence means in unfavorable environments, rather than as a usual reproduction method. Some bacteria can cause a spore state to protect itself for a time against thermal variations, lack of food or water or even factors such as salt, extreme pH or radiation.

The three Types of bacterial spores are:

  • The endospores.
  • The exospore.
  • The acinetes.

If you want to read more articles similar to What are the sporeswe recommend that you enter our biology category.

Kyle Muller
About the author
Dr. Kyle Muller
Dr. Kyle Mueller is a Research Analyst at the Harris County Juvenile Probation Department in Houston, Texas. He earned his Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from Texas State University in 2019, where his dissertation was supervised by Dr. Scott Bowman. Dr. Mueller's research focuses on juvenile justice policies and evidence-based interventions aimed at reducing recidivism among youth offenders. His work has been instrumental in shaping data-driven strategies within the juvenile justice system, emphasizing rehabilitation and community engagement.
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