Surface tension propulsion of fungal spores by use of microdroplets

TL;DR

This paper investigates the rapid spore ejection mechanism in edible mushrooms, demonstrating how surface tension and microdroplet coalescence generate the momentum needed for high-speed spore release, supported by high-speed video analysis.

Contribution

It provides detailed high-speed imaging of mushroom spore ejection, elucidating the role of surface tension forces in this biological propulsion process.

Findings

Spores are ejected at about 1 m/s using microdroplet coalescence.

High-speed videos capture the rapid ejection process at up to 250,000 fps.

Surface tension forces are key to mushroom spore propulsion.

Abstract

Many edible mushrooms eject their spores (about 10 microns in size) at high speed (about 1 m/s) using surface tension forces in a few microseconds. Basically the coalescence of a droplet with the spore generates the necessary momentum to eject the spore. We have detailed this mechanism in \cite{noblin2}. In this article, we give some details about the high speed movies (up to 250000 fps) of mushrooms' spores ejection attached to this submission. This video was submitted as part of the Gallery of Fluid Motion 2010 which is showcase of fluid dynamics videos.