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The light-absorbing compound in the fungus cell membranes had the effect of turning the water black. [5] While there are many cases of extremophiles (organisms that can live in severe conditions such as that of the radioactive power plant), a hypothetical radiotrophic fungus would grow because of the radiation, rather than in spite of it. [6]
Melanin (/ ˈ m ɛ l ə n ɪ n / ⓘ; from Ancient Greek μέλας (mélas) 'black, dark') is a family of biomolecules organized as oligomers or polymers, which among other functions provide the pigments of many organisms. [1] Melanin pigments are produced in a specialized group of cells known as melanocytes.
In order to penetrate the cell wall, the fungus first pumps melanin into the walls of the appressorium to create turgor pressure in the appressorium. The melanin allows water into the appressorium cell but nothing out. This builds up an incredible amount of turgor pressure which the fungus then uses to push a hyphae through the corn cell wall.
Aureobasidium melanogenum, formerly known as Aureobasidium pullulans var. melanogenum is a ubiquitous black, yeast-like fungus that is found mainly in freshwater habitats. . The species also includes strains causing human infections, which were previously classified as A. pullulans
Dark septate endophytes have been found in the subantarctic, boreal coniferous forests in Canada, temperate and boreal forests in Northern and Central Europe, exotic pine plantations in New Zealand, [3] temperate grasslands, epiphytic plants in tropical rain forests, alpine environments, and semi-arid environments.
The English word fungus is directly adopted from the Latin fungus (mushroom), used in the writings of Horace and Pliny. [10] This in turn is derived from the Greek word sphongos (σφόγγος 'sponge'), which refers to the macroscopic structures and morphology of mushrooms and molds; [11] the root is also used in other languages, such as the German Schwamm ('sponge') and Schimmel ('mold').
The name chaga comes from the Russian name of the fungus, ча́га, čága, which in turn is borrowed from the word for "mushroom" in Komi, тшак, tšak, the language of the indigenous peoples in the Kama River Basin, west of the Ural Mountains. It is also known as the clinker polypore, cinder conk, black mass and birch canker polypore. [17]
Melanin in rhizomorphs are known for the absorption of metal ions from the soil and can be found in different structures such as spores and cell walls of fungi among others. Functions of melanin also include protecting against UV radiation and moisture stress. [14] Thus melanin production aids in longevity and survival of rhizomorphs in the ...