| Crucibulum | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Crucibulum laeve | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Fungi |
| Division: | Basidiomycota |
| Class: | Agaricomycetes |
| Order: | Agaricales |
| Family: | Nidulariaceae |
| Genus: | Crucibulum Tul. &C.Tul. (1844) |
| Type species | |
| Crucibulum laeve | |
| Species | |
Crucibulum | |
|---|---|
 | Glebalhymenium |
 | Cap isinfundibuliform |
 | Hymenium attachment is not applicable |
| Lacks astipe |
 | Ecology issaprotrophic |
 | Edibility isinedible |
Crucibulum is agenus in theNidulariaceae, afamily offungi whosefruiting bodies resemble tiny egg-filled bird's nests. Often called "splash cups", the fruiting bodies are adapted forspore dispersal by using thekinetic energy of falling drops of rain.[2] The "eggs" inside the bird's nests (technically known as peridioles) are hard waxy shells containing spores, and tend to stick to whatever nearbyherbage they land on, thus increasing the odds of being consumed and dispersed byherbivorous animals.[3] Members of this genus aresaprobic, obtaining nutrients from deadorganic matter, and are typically found growing on decayed wood and wood debris. The three knownCrucibulum species (C. laeve,C. parvulum, andC. cyathiforme) are distinguished from other genera of the Nidulariaceae by their relatively simple funiculus – a cord ofhyphae that connects the peridiole (the "eggs") to the exterior of the bird's nest.
Bird's nest fungi were first mentioned by Flemish botanistCarolus Clusius inRariorum plantarum historia (1601). Over the next couple of centuries, these fungi were the subject of some controversy regarding whether the peridioles were seeds, and the mechanism by which they were dispersed in nature. For example, the French botanistJean-Jacques Paulet, in his workTraité des champignons (1790–3), erroneously suggested that peridioles were ejected from the fruiting bodies by some sort of spring mechanism.[4]
The structure and biology of the genusCrucibulum was better known by the mid-19th century, when the brothersLouis René andCharles Tulasne published amonograph on the bird's nest fungi.[5] Subsequently, monographs were written in 1902 by Violet S. White (American species),[6]Curtis Gates Lloyd in 1906,[7]Gordon Herriot Cunningham in 1924 (New Zealand species),[8] andHarold J. Brodie in 1975.[9]
Thetype species for the genusCrucibulum described by the Tulasne brothers wasCrucibulum vulgare, an older synonym of the species known today asC. laeve. However, this naming choice was later deemed invalid by rules of fungal nomenclature; the first name validly applied to the species wasC. laeve, use byDe Candolle, who had based his species uponNidularia laevis as it appeared inBulliard'sHistoire des Champignons de la France (Paris, 1791).[10] Kambly and Lee published the firsttaxonomically valid description of the genus in 1936.[1] In their 1844 monograph on the Nidulariaceae,[5] the brothersLouis René andCharles Tulasne used the nameCrucibulum vulgare, and the species was known by this name until the International Commission on the Taxonomy of Fungi (ICTF) changed the starting-point date for the naming of fungi, andC. vulgare was deemed invalid.[10] Theetymology of thespecific epithet is derived from theLatinlaeve, meaning "smooth".[10]
Crucibulum species have lighttan to cinnamon-coloredfruiting bodies, known as aperidium, that are cup- orcrucible-shaped. Depending on the species, the size of the peridium may range from 2–4 mm tall by 1.5–3 mm wide at the mouth (forC. parvulum)[11] to 5–10 mm tall by 5–8 mm wide (forC. laeve).[12] Viewed microscopically, the wall of the peridium is made of a single layer of tissue, in contrast to the three-layered peridium wall inCyathus species. The outer surface of the peridium hashyphae that agglutinate so as to form a texture with visible filaments, a condition known as fibrillose; this outer layers of hairs typically wears off with age to leave a relatively smooth surface.[13]
Young specimens have a thin layer of tissue called an epiphragm that covers the top of the peridium; it wears off at maturity to expose the peridioles within. There are usually four to six peridioles (up to 15 have been noted forC. laeve)[12] that are disc-shaped, whitish in color, and attached to the endoperidium by a strand called a funicular cord. Made ofmycelia, the funicular cord tends to wither away and disappear as the fruiting body ages.[14]Spores fromCrucibulum species typically have an elliptical or roughly spherical shape, and are thick-walled, translucent (hyaline) or light yellow-brown in color, with dimensions of 5–15 μm by 5–8 μm.[15] The spores ofC. cyathiforme are notably slightly or strongly curved.[11]
Because the basic fruiting body structure in allgenera of the family Nidulariaceae is essentially similar,Crucibulum may be readily confused with species ofNidula orCyathus, especially older, weathered specimens ofCyathus that may have the hairy ectoperidium worn off.[13] It distinguished fromNidula by the presence of a funiculus, a cord of hyphae attaching the peridiole to the endoperidium.Cyathus differs from genusCrucibulum by having a distinct three-layered wall and a more intricate funiculus.[16]
Derived from theGreek wordperidion, meaning "small leather pouch",[17] the peridiole is the "egg" of the bird's nest. It is a mass ofbasidiospores andglebal tissue enclosed by a hard and waxy outer shell. InCrucibulum, the disc-shaped peridioles are lightbuff or white; the white colouring is due to a persistent layer of tissue surrounding the peridioles, called a tunica. Inside the peridiole is a spore-bearing tissue (thehymenium) that is made of spore-bearing cells (basidia), sterile (non-reproductive) structures, and spores.
Peridioles are attached to the fruiting body by a funiculus, a structure ofhyphae that may be differentiated into three regions: the basal piece, which attaches it to the inner wall of the peridium, the middle piece, and an upper sheath, called the purse, connected to the lower surface of the peridiole. In the purse and middle piece is a coiled thread of interwoven hyphae called the funicular cord, attached at one end to the peridiole and at the other end to an entangled mass of hyphae called the hapteron. InCrucibulum species the peridioles are covered by a whitish tunica.[18] The funiculus ofCrucibulum species is markedly different from those ofCyathus species: inCrucibulum, the purse is a rounded knob 0.3–0.5 mm wide, attached to the underside of the peridiole. Attaching the purse directly to the wall of the peridium is a stout yellow-grey cord 0.1 mm wide and about 2.5 mm long.[19]
Spores are dispersed when a peridiole is dislodged by raindrops or water dripping off an over-hanging leaf. The smooth inner walls of the fruiting body consistently form an angle of 70–75° with the horizontal; it has been demonstrated experimentally that the combined effect of the crucible shape and internal wall angle produce a good splash action.[20] The force of the falling water splashes out the peridiole, uncoiling and snapping the funiculus, the cord that connects it to the fruiting body. As the peridiole continues its flight, the funiculus extends to its full length. The sticky end of the funiculus may adhere to a leaf or a twig some distance away, and the peridiole may end up being wrapped around or hanging down the object to which the funiculus is stuck. The spores can germinate when the thick outer wall of the peridiole wears away, or the peridiole may be eaten by a herbivorous animal, and ultimately passed through itsdigestive system. This method of spore dispersal, first suggested byJohn Ray in the late 17th century, was tested experimentally by Martin (1927),[14] and more thoroughly byBuller andBrodie in the 1940s.[21]
The life cycle ofCrucibulum, which contains bothhaploid anddiploid stages, is typical of the species ofBasidiomycota that can reproduce both asexually (viavegetative spores), or sexually (withmeiosis). Like other wood-decay fungi, this life cycle may be considered as two functionally different phases: the vegetative stage for the spread ofmycelia, and the reproductive stage for the establishment of spore-producing structures, the fruiting bodies.[22]
The vegetative stage encompasses those phases of the life cycle involved with the germination, spread, and survival of the mycelium. Spores germinate under suitable conditions of moisture and temperature, and grow into branching filaments calledhyphae, pushing out like roots into the rotting wood. These hyphae arehomokaryotic, containing a singlenucleus in each compartment; they increase in length by adding cell-wall material to a growing tip. As these tips expand and spread to produce new growing points, a network called the mycelium develops. Mycelial growth occurs bymitosis and the synthesis of hyphal biomass. When two homokaryotic hyphae of differentmating compatibility groups fuse with one another, they form adikaryotic mycelia in a process calledplasmogamy. Prerequisites for mycelial survival and colonization a substrate (like rotting wood) include suitable humidity and nutrient availability.Crucibulum laeve issaprobic, so mycelial growth in rotting wood is made possible by the secretion ofenzymes that break down complexpolysaccharides (such ascellulose andlignin) into simple sugars that can be used as nutrients.[23]
After a period of time and under the appropriate environmental conditions, the dikaryotic mycelia may enter the reproductive stage of the life cycle. Fruiting body formation is influenced by external factors such as season (which affects temperature and air humidity), nutrients and light. As fruiting bodies develop they produce peridioles containing thebasidia upon which new basidiospores are made. Young basidia contain a pair of haploid sexually compatible nuclei which fuse, and the resulting diploid fusion nucleus undergoes meiosis to producebasidiospores, each containing a single haploid nucleus. The dikaryotic mycelia from which the fruiting bodies are produced is long lasting, and will continue to produce successive generations of fruiting bodies as long as the environmental conditions are favorable.[24]
The initial studies on the development of the fruiting bodies inCrucibulum were performed by the brothers Tulasne (1844),[5] Sachs (1855),[25] DeBary (1866),[26] Eidam (1877),[27] and Walker (1920).[28] Collectively, these early researchers determined thatbasidiospores are produced on club-shapedbasidia which line the internal cavity of the peridiole. Basidia typically have 4 spores, attached by a short projection (asterigma); after being detached from the basidia the spores migrate towards the center of the peridiole concurrently with the collapse and gelatinization of the underlying tissues.
Grown inliquid culture,Crucibulum laeve producesbioactive chemicals called salfredins that arestructurally related tobenzofuran andchromene, molecules that contain cyclicamide orlactone five-membered ring structures; these compounds are unique to this species.[30] Salfredin B11 was first identified in 1995,[31] while later research confirmed the presence of additional salfredin-typemetabolites. These compounds areinhibitors ofaldose reductase, anenzyme that has been implicated in the formation ofcataracts in advanced stages ofdiabetes mellitus.[32][33] The salfredin compounds may havetherapeutic use in the treatment of this disorder.[30]
Like other bird's nest fungi,Crucibulum species aresaprobic and derive their nutrients from decomposingorganic matter. They are typically found growing on wood and woody debris such as stems, twigs, wood chips, old nut shells, and old matting;[34] they are sometimes found on "dried manure cakes".[7] Brodie notes (ofC. laeve) they are "never" found on soil or large logs.[11]C. parvulum has been found on the roots and stems of old or dead dry land plants such asJuniperus horizontalis andArtemisia species.
C. laeve, the most well-known species ofCrucibulum, is atemperate-zone species with acircumpolar distribution. It has been collected in most European countries and theCanary Islands; in North America it has been found from Alaska to Mexico, while South American locations include Chile andTierra del Fuego. It has also been found in Australia,[35] Iceland,[36] Japan, and New Zealand.[10]C. parvulum has a primarily North American distribution, having been found inAlaska, southernAlbertaBadlands, the CanadianRocky Mountains and in semi-deserts ofIdaho;[37] in 2004 it was collected in China.[38]C. cyathiforme is only known from Colombia—where it was discovered growing at an elevation of nearly 7000 feet (2146 metres)—[39] andArmenia.[40]
Species in the family Nidulariaceae, includingCrucibulum, are considered inedible, as they are "not sufficiently large, fleshy, or odorous to be of interest to humans as food".[41] However, there have not been reports of poisonousalkaloids or other substances considered toxic to humans.
Until the 1970sCrucibulum was thought to bemonotypic, containing the single speciesC. laeve (formerlyC. vulgaris). This was in part due to the stance thatCurtis Gates Lloyd and other mycologists had taken in the early 20th century, believing that the designation of new species was not justifiable due to the existence of intermediate forms in similar habitats and close proximity.[13] In 1970–71, Brodie discovered and reported two variants that differed fromC. laeve sufficiently to justify naming them as new species.
Thespecific epithet of this species refers to the vase-like orCyathus-like (obconic) form of the peridia. It differs fromCrucibulum laeve in the shape and pink-color of its peridia, as well as its slightly or strongly curved spores (typically 6.5–8 x 11–17 μm). It was found growing on rotten wood and soil inColombia by mycologistGastón Guzmán.[39]
Crucibulum laeve or thewhite-egg bird's nest[42] have peridia that are 3–7 mm in diameter x 3–8 mm tall, cup-shaped, short and cylindrical with roughly parallel side walls. Thetomentose exterior surface is tan to yellow when young and whiter in age. Young specimens have a coarsely tomentose epiphragm (membranous cover) that soon disappears. The peridioles are 1–2 mm broad, tan to white in color, disc-shaped, and wrinkled when dry. This species grows on material like twigs,lignin-rich vegetable debris, wood chips, old matting, or manure.[43]
The immaturefruiting body ofCrucibulum laeve (technically, theperidium), is roughly spherical in shape, but in maturity the base is narrowed slightly relative to the top, so that it appears like a cup, orcrucible. The fruiting bodies are usually 5–8 mm tall and almost as wide at the mouth.[10] When young, the mouth is enclosed by a thin membrane called anepiphragm, which is covered with surface hairs. As the fruiting body matures and the fruiting body expands, the epiphragm ruptures, exposing the internal contents. The wall of the fruiting body is made of a single uniform layer of closely interwovenhyphae (the threadlike filaments that form themycelium) roughly 0.25–0.5 mm thick; this wall structure is in contrast to species from the bird's nest fungus genusCyathus, which have a distinctly three-layered wall. Young species have a yellowish velvety cover of fine hairs, but this external surface becomes sloughed off and becomes smooth as the fruiting body matures; the color changes to brown, although some old weathered specimens may be bleached grey or dirty white.[7] The inner surface of the fruiting body is smooth and shiny. The cups contain tiny paleochraceous or white "eggs," technically termedperidioles, usually 1–2 mm in diameter. In each peridiole is a spore-producing layer of tissue, thehymenium. This layer is largely composed ofbasidia (spore-producing cells) mixed withparaphyses (non-spore producing elements interspersed between basidia). Peridioles are covered by a thin membrane of loosely woven hyphae known as a tunica; separated from the light-colored tunica, the peridioles are black. The peridioles are attached to the inner wall of the peridium by a thin, elastic cord of mycelium, afuniculus, which can be extended at length when moist.
Crucibulum laeve hasspores that are elliptical,hyaline (translucent), and smooth, with dimensions of 7–10 by 4–6 μm.[44]
This species, which is also known as thescanty bird's nest,[42] is characterized by its very small peridia (dimensions 1.5–3 mm wide at the mouth x 2–4 mm tall) with a color that may range from white to grey to palebuff, but never yellow – helping distinguish it fromC. laeve. The peridia areobconic, thin-walled (150–180 μm at the lip, approximately 300 μm thick at the edge of the lip),tomentose on the outer side and smooth on the inner side, and taper to a narrow base. The peridioles range in width between 0.5 and 1.25 mm broad. Basidiospores have dimensions of 4–5 by 7–8 μm.[37]
