Mycology - what kind of science is this?

Life on Earth is represented by a myriad of all kinds of plants and animals that differ significantly among themselves depending on the conditions of their habitation and origin. But there are beings so unlike the habitual forms of life that they can not be attributed to either plants or animals. These amazing organisms, which come to us from another planet, are called mushrooms. Mycology is the science that studies them. Mycologists collect and systemize information on various species of fungi, which at the moment there are more than 100 thousand. These are only known to science species, there is an opinion that in fact the variety of mushroom culture is much wider, and the current knowledge of them is just a drop in the ocean.

The ubiquitous colonizers

If you think that mushrooms are distant forest inhabitants, occasionally sprouting in the city, then you are mistaken. The air is literally teeming with mushroom spores, especially in the summer. These organisms are everywhere, they surround us everywhere, but their presence is not easy to notice. After all, the fungus is the mycelium itself, and not the fruit bodies, as most people mistakenly believe.

Fruit bodies are needed to spread the fungus culture, so their size and shape are very diverse, indicating the amazing ability of these organisms to adapt to any conditions.

First steps

How does a new mycelium form? It all begins with microscopic disputes, which are carried by the wind or animals. They can stay in the sleeping state for a long time until favorable conditions for their germination appear. After this, each dispute begins to produce threads, which subsequently form a mycelium. This requires a substrate, that is, a nutrient medium suitable for a particular type of fungus. As the substrate consumes, the mycelium grows, mastering more and more new territories, while the old mycelium gradually dies. Some specimens may have an extent of more than a kilometer. This makes mushrooms the largest living creature on Earth.

Fruiting

Mushroom, no matter how strong she may be, can not grow infinitely. Therefore, at some point it releases fruit bodies with spores that will give rise to new mushrooms. Mycology studies all stages of growth of these amazing organisms. It is thanks to this science that we know so much about these incredible beings. So, the research of mycologists allowed to find out that when the conditions become optimal, the mycelium begins to bear fruit, releasing fruit bodies out.

Fruit bodies of mushrooms seriously differ among themselves both in shape and size. Moreover, they can differ significantly even among representatives of one species, depending on the conditions of growth. Over time, when the fruit body is fully formed, the mushroom's head opens, releasing millions of microscopic spores into the air, each of which can become a new mycelium.

Mushroom diversity

Mycology is a fairly young science, but the data collected by its hard-working adepts simply amaze the imagination. It turns out that these organisms can absorb a wide variety of substrate types. For example, some species of fungi grow well on animal corpses or on their feces. Others prefer vegetable food, and some species are generally predators.

The latter live in the soil and hunt microscopic worms, called nematodes. They release small rings from the mycelium, which reliably fix the victim, when she falls into one of these rings. There are also mushrooms that prefer food in the form of insects. They literally devour the unfortunate insects from within, literally, to throw the spores out of the empty body of their victim. Cases of successful struggle against the Colorado beetle by means of predatory mushrooms are known .

Microscopic mushrooms

Of course, it's hard not to notice a large, majestic mushroom, proudly towering above the ground. But, most species have much more modest dimensions. Everyone knows molds and other miniature representatives of the mushroom kingdom. These microscopic colonizers will never miss their chance. Once the spores are on a suitable substrate, immediately the process of its overgrowing begins.

But the controversy surrounds us everywhere, even in Antarctica, air contains a certain number of them. Special attention to microscopic fungi is given by medical mycology. As is known, the first antibiotic penicillin was obtained from miniature fungi, as well as many subsequent antibiotics and drugs. Only in recent years, in order to reduce the risk of allergic reactions and reduce the cost of production, began to create synthetic antibiotics.

Application in food industry

Mushrooms can become an ornament of any table. Even the most sophisticated gourmets appreciate the fruit bodies of mushrooms for their special taste. A huge variety of these organisms opens wide scope for culinary creativity. But the use of fungi in the food industry is not limited to banal eating of their fruit bodies.

Ironically, most of the products offered by supermarkets contain mushrooms. For example, you can not fail to mention yeast - one of the most popular ingredients in the food industry. Even fruit juices contain a certain amount of microscopic fungi, if the package has the inscription "lightened". So we can say with confidence that these organisms are very firmly established in our lives, without bothering to inform most of us. Therefore, mycology is one of the most important branches of modern science, capable of giving the world many more miraculous discoveries.

Industrial cultivation

It would seem that since mushrooms are so useful for people, why not grow them everywhere? But not everything is so simple. The vast majority of mushrooms refuses to grow on mushroom farms. The fact is that in a natural environment these organisms have a mass of symbiotic connections, without which their existence is impossible. Therefore, the townsfolk have to be satisfied with the usual oyster mushrooms and champignons. Those who expect a greater variety will have to go to the forest and independently collect appetizing mushroom fruits.

However, even those mushrooms that can grow in greenhouses, it is not so easy to grow. The fact is that the mushroom world is full of competition - millions of disputes fly in the air in anticipation of their hour. Mycology is an industry that requires maximum sterility. Therefore, before infecting the nutrient substrate with spores of the necessary fungi, it is necessary to make sure that the air in the room is sterile. In addition, careful sterilization of the instruments involved in the process will be required, and even the clothing of the person carrying out the infection must be carefully sterilized. Only in this way can you be sure that it will grow exactly what you need.

Research Institute of Mycology them. Kashkin

This impressive complex, created for in-depth study of the science of mushrooms, is the only institution of its kind in the whole of Russia. It uses the latest equipment to effectively diagnose mycosis, and then confront it. The research center is named in honor of the person to whom modern mycology owes much - Pavel Nikolayevich Kashkina. It was he who in 1982 founded the first mycological center.

As it turned out, microscopic fungi are the causative agents of a variety of diseases, at first glance completely unrelated to them. In addition to mycologists, in the scientific center. Kashkin works team of immunologists, gastroenterologists, endocrinologists, urologists and other specialists. Thanks to the joint efforts of medical workers and mycology, the effectiveness of treatment of ailments is very high. On the example of this remarkable institution, one can understand how useful mycology is to society. Santiago de Cuba, 1/28 is the address of the Research Institute. Kashkin in St. Petersburg.

The future of mycology

Of course, the science that studies mushrooms is waiting for a great future. After all, these organisms spread all over the planet, colonized almost all of its surface. A happy future can only be built in cooperation with these amazing creatures. Not only people depend on mushrooms, most plants could not survive without their help. About 80% of the flora on Earth exists due to mycorrhizas - symbiosis with mushrooms. Our planet has become as we know it, precisely because of the efforts of these desperate colonizers.

People perfectly understand how important the mushrooms are. Therefore, new research institutes of mycology are being created, thousands of scientists are working on the research of this branch. The contribution of mushroom science to medicine and the food industry is priceless. Mushrooms help shamans and sorcerers to conduct their mysterious rituals, and the medicine men heal diseases with them. The results of the centuries-old cooperation of mushrooms and people have turned into a scientific discipline - mycology. There is every reason to believe that this young science is waiting for a bright future.