sporocarp

Sporocarp is the spore-producing structure of certain fungi, and in some contexts of botany, a similar spore-bearing body found in other organisms. In mycology, the sporocarp is the macroscopic fruiting body that arises from the fungal mycelium and contains the tissues where spores are formed and released. It can be fleshy and large, as in mushrooms, or compact and enclosed, as in puffballs and truffles, or crust-like as bracket fungi.

The spores produced within a sporocarp may develop through different developmental pathways depending on the fungal lineage. In basidiomycetes, the sporocarp (basidiocarp) bears basidia that produce basidiospores on a hymenial surface, typically after meiosis. In ascomycetes, the sporocarp (ascocarp) contains asci that generate ascospores, also following meiosis. The morphology and arrangement of spore-bearing tissues vary widely, leading to a diverse array of fruiting-body forms.

Formation of sporocarps is commonly triggered by environmental cues such as light, temperature, humidity, and nutrient status. Once mature, the sporocarp facilitates spore dispersal, enabling the fungus to colonize new substrates and complete its life cycle. While the term is widely used in mycology, it is not a taxonomic rank and serves mainly as a descriptive label for the spore-producing structure.

Examples of sporocarps include the edible Agaricus mushrooms, shelf fungi like Ganoderma, puffballs such as Lycoperdon, and the highly valued truffles (Tuber). In some non-fungal plants, sporocarp-like structures are mentioned in historical or specialized literature, but the precise terminology often differs.