Question

Fruiting body of the Agaricus is called as
A. Pseudocarp
B. Pericarp
C. Basidiocarp
D. Mesocarp

Answer 1

Agaricus is an edible fungi which is commonly called as mushroom. It is a saprophytic fungus that is found growing in soil humus, decaying litter, in fields and lawns and manure piles. The umbrella-shaped structure is the fruiting body that is the edible part of the fungi.

Complete answer:
Agaricus is a genus of mushrooms that are found worldwide with more than 300 members. They are characterised by fleshy cap or pileus that grows a number of naked spores. They generally contain strips or stems that help in the elevation of it above the ground level and a partial veil that protects the developing gills which later form up a ring or annulus on the stalk. It is commonly found in moist and shady places and is mainly grown in the rainy season.

Agaricus contains a large sporophore or a fruiting body in which spores are produced sexually in a cup-shaped structure called basidia. It is also called basidiocarp. This fruiting body is made up of tertiary mycelium. The dikaryotic mycelium is responsible for the production of this umbrella-shaped fruiting body. The development of the basidiocarp takes place from the mycelial strand or rhinophores.

On absorbing sufficient amounts of food material mycelium produces a fruiting body from the soil. It is generally a tiny, pinhead structure that comes out of the soil under favourable conditions. The mature body of the basidiocarp is differentiated into 3 regions, which are:
1. STIPE- It is the basal part in which the hyphae run longitudinally parallel to each other. They are generally made up of two kinds of tissue, compactly arranged hyphae in the peripheral region called hyphae and the central region called the medulla.
2. PILEUS- The stipe at its top supports a strong umbrella-shaped cup which is termed as pileus which is 5 to 12.5 cm in diameter. Around 300 to 600 strips or plates for tissue called lamellas hang from the underside of the pileus. These gills or lamellas are white or pinkish in colour when young but turns brown or purplish-black after maturity.

So, the correct answer is option C, Basidiocarp or we can also say basidioma.

Note: Sporophores are developed after the maturity of mycelium which appears in a circle. They are called "fairy rings' ' because of an old superstition that mushrooms are growing in a ring which generally indicates the path of the dancing fairies. These fairy rings are composed of dark and light green bands of grass.