What is sporulation and examples

As we have already mentioned, sporulation is a type of asexual reproduction that some organisms share. The asexual reproduction by sporulation It can be a mechanism that is part of the reproductive natural cycle of a species, or being an alternative mechanism against hostile and adverse environments that temporarily impossible to survive or sexual reproduction. This is because The sporesunicellular propagation structures are extremely resistant and can survive environments such as extreme temperatures, floods, droughts or absence of nutrients. We recommend knowing them better with this other article about what the spores are.

There are many agencies capable of resorting to sporulation, but not everyone does it in the same way. The fungi, the floors and bacteria each keep their peculiarities about it, as we will see below.

The Micmous sporesthat is, those produced by fungusThey are key in the reproduction, spread and survival of their species. In his case, a fungus is able to produce spores by both sexual and asexual reproduction. The former are vital for the adaptation of species to changes or new environments, while the latter are especially important for the ability to dispers and colonization of the fungus.

If the spore is produced by the asexual pathway, the DNA doubles and divides by mitosis into the septum. The spore is formed and is separated by a plasma membrane, which is then protected with a resistant cover and released to the environment.

In plants, you have to differentiate two large types of species that produce vegetable sporeswe talk about The ferns and the briophytes. The ferns are one of the most primitive vascular plants that currently exist, while briophytes are non -vascular plants, that is, they lack elaborate water and nutrient transport structures.

• In the case of ferns, pteridophytes or also called Pteridophyte plantsthe Sporogenesis It occurs in the underside of the leaves, in structures that are called Esporangios Or, when it comes to the fusion of several of them, Sinangios. They produce haploid megaspores that, when released and when the conditions are favorable, give rise to a gametophyte that, later, will be able to produce a new sporophyte capable of starting once again the cycle. We encourage you to learn more about how ferns reproduce with the reading of this other article.
• Non -vascular plants, BRIOPHITSThey share a similar cycle, in which the meiotic cell division begins in the sporophyte stadium, producing a high amount of haploid spores. Once in a favorable environment, they are germinating producing gametophytes, which will lead to gametes, capable of merging to form a new sporophyte, thus returning to the diploid phase.

Not all bacteria produce Bacterial sporesbut those who do so have a way to survive sudden changes in the environment, thus leaving their spores waiting for conditions to be favorable again. Bacterial spores are, in fact, those considered from more resistant In nature. In most cases this process is triggered when the bacteria is left without nutrients and increase its cell density.

It should be differentiated here from The endosporesproduced by the bacteria of the Firmicute group and that originate inside the cell, and The exosporewhich are produced by certain actinobacteria and that form externally and by geming.

Some Examples of species that use the sporulation to reproduce:

• In the case of fungi, spores reproduction is the most common, being usual to classify them by the characteristics of their spore producing structures. They differ according to the spores they produce, such as ascospores, basidiospores or conidia, among others. Therefore, virtually any type of fungus or mushroom It can be an example of organism that uses sporulation as a method of reproduction.
• Pteridophytes, commonly called Horse and horse tailsThey reproduce by spores by not having seeds or flowers. There are many types and around 10,000 species are counted worldwide, among which are, for example, the Asplenium nidushe Cytheahe Nephrolepis exaltata or the Selaginella Willdenowii.
• In bacteria, sporulation is carried out, above all, in those belonging to Clostridium and Bacillus genresas well as in some cyanobacteria.

Both gemation and sporulation are Types of asexual reproductionbut while sporulation is based on the formation of spores that are released to the environment, on Gemation What is given is the formation of Yemas in the parentwhich once grow and develop can, or separate from it, or form colonies next to it.

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