Can anyone give a short explanation about the functional role of cheilocystidia? In several genera of the higher fungi, they have thick walls, or/and encrusted apex. Anyway, what is the function of this formations?
First, things do not necessary have a function in Nature. Structures that do not impact the fitness of a genotype (neutral traits) will not be eliminated by natural selection and may thus get fixed and transmitted.
This being said, the function of cystidia, whether cheilo or pleuro, is still unclear. They may play a role in maintaining a higher degree humidity around the gills (boundary layer effect). They may also play a defensive role in protecting against gills feeding animals. See for instance:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/5824337_Defensive_role_of_cystidia_against_Collembola_in_the_basidiomycetes_Russula_bella_and_Strobilurus_ohshimae
Article Defensive role of cystidia against Collembola in the basidio...
First, things do not necessary have a function in Nature. Structures that do not impact the fitness of a genotype (neutral traits) will not be eliminated by natural selection and may thus get fixed and transmitted.
This being said, the function of cystidia, whether cheilo or pleuro, is still unclear. They may play a role in maintaining a higher degree humidity around the gills (boundary layer effect). They may also play a defensive role in protecting against gills feeding animals. See for instance:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/5824337_Defensive_role_of_cystidia_against_Collembola_in_the_basidiomycetes_Russula_bella_and_Strobilurus_ohshimae
Article Defensive role of cystidia against Collembola in the basidio...
Dear Hervé Cochard!
Thank You the useful help, I red the intresting contribution linked above. I agree with you, cheilocystidia do not necessary have a function in the present, but then maybe had role in the past?
I hypothesize, that cheilocystidia play (or played) also the following functions beside the security from fungivores:
-excretion of some materials along the physiological processes of fungal life
-osmotic regulation
-regulation of humidity between the lamellae of the sporocarps
-storage of materials, during (nutrient consuming) spore development.
Best wishes: Attila
Dear Pankaj Mehrotra!
I just read the linked contribution, but it does not concern to my question about the function of cheilocystidia...
Dear Attila,
The mentions on cystidia functionality are rather scarce compared to its morphology and diagnostic role. The most well-acknowledged function of cystidia is defence of basidial layer usually by mechanic means. Cheilocystidia are predominantly larger compared to basidia and protrude from hymenial layer sometimes shaping so called "sterile band", or sterile edge near the lamella margin. The secretory function of cystidia (by the way, mentioned by yourself) is known too for thick-walled metuloids with crystal encrustation. These are presumed to serve as excretive cells to remove any unnecessary compounds from hymenium during its intense metabolism in the sporulation period. For example, the excess of Ca oxalate can be crystallized at the apex of cystidia. Metuloids are more common as pleurocystidia (e.g., in Hohenbuehelia, Homophron, Inocybe species), but in thin-walled cheilocystidia excretion was shown too.
The question of cystidia functions is rather thriling for me too, but, unfortunately, at least its shape can provide no clue, because hymenial cheilocystidia can be very similar and near identical in its morphology to tramal, originated from cap or stipe surface.
A couple of papers on cystidia defensive and secretory functions you can find attached.
With best regards,
Elena
Dear Elena!
I think, the second contribution, that You linked above (GULL&NEWSAM, 1975) is the most useful one so far, I am just reading!
Thank you!
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