Spores are reproductive cells that can develop into a new individual without fusion with another reproductive cell. They are involved in reproduction and can be adapted for dispersal and survival in unfavorable conditions, often for extended periods of time. Spores can be classified in several ways, such as by spore-producing structure, and they are characteristic of a particular taxon of the fungi. Spores can be produced by bacteria, fungi, algae, and plants.
Bacterial spores serve largely as a resting or dormant stage in the bacterial life cycle, helping to preserve the bacterium through periods of unfavorable conditions. Spore production is particularly common among Bacillus and Clostridium bacteria, several species of which are disease-causing. Many bacterial spores are highly durable and can germinate even after years of dormancy.
Among the fungi, spores serve a function analogous to that of seeds in plants. Produced and released by specialized fruiting bodies, such as the edible portion of the familiar mushrooms, fungal spores germinate and grow into new individuals under suitable conditions of moisture, temperature, and food availability. Fungal spores are microscopic biological particles that allow fungi to be reproduced, serving a similar purpose to that of seeds in the plant world.
Spores have thick walls and can resist high temperatures, humidity, and other environmental conditions. They can be challenging to eradicate in situations where it’s crucial to maintain a pristine surface, like the surface of a rover that will land on Mars.
