Cauldron Bubble

What am I looking at?

This is an image of the hyphae and spore-producing cells of a yellow jelly fungus (Tremella mesenterica). The light blue, red, and purple tubelike structures are its hyphae (1), which make up the mycelium that is the main “body” of the fungus. The bulb-like structures (2) throughout the image are basidia (or spore-bearing cells) that this fungus uses to reproduce.

Click on the right arrow to see some additional views of this fungus.

Biology in the background

This fungus grows in the undergrowth of tropical and temperate forests around the world. It is a parasitic fungus, feeding off other fungal species, especially from the genus Peniophora. The mycelium of this fungus can grow on rotting wood without the presence of its host, but it will not produce fruiting bodies until it encounters a member of its host species. Once it does, it will quickly produce a dense hyphal network that intermingles with the host fungus, feeding off it to produce its own fruiting bodies.

The fruiting bodies of this fungus are yellow, fan-like, and gelatinous. They are edible but tasteless and are not often eaten. However, this fungus has been proven to contain several polysaccharides that might be useful for medical treatment. Recent research into these compounds has shown that they could have immune-stimulating, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, cholesterol-lowering, liver-protective, and antiallergic effects.

The hyphae of this fungus can grow to about 4 micrometers thick, or roughly 20 times smaller than the width of a human hair. Its basidia can grow to about 16 micrometers across, or roughly 4.5 times smaller than the width of a human hair. And its fruiting bodies can grow up to 8 centimeters across, or roughly four times larger than the width of a human thumbnail.

Technique

These images were created using confocal microscopy.