Dirtland

Giant Spore of endomycorrhizae

Click here to see a JPEG of this microbe.

Kingdom: Fungi
Scientific Name: Gigaspora rosea
Image Courtesy of: Calderon, Francisco
Image Width: 100 microns
Image Technology: Laser Scanning Confocal Microscopy

Mycorrhhizal fungi reproduce by forming spores, such as this of Gigaspora rosea . From a microbial perspective, these spores are gigantic. Spores of Gigaspora may measure up to 300 microns, and are visible to the naked eye. These spores are reproductive structures which serve to propogate the fungus.