Key takeaways
- The cycle runs from spores to hyphae, mycelium, fruiting body and back to spores.
- Most of the cycle happens out of sight as mycelium.
- Fruiting is triggered by changes in temperature, moisture or light.
- Mycelium and fruiting body are the two materials used in products.
Every mushroom you see is one stage in a remarkable life cycle, most of which happens out of sight. This article walks through it step by step.
1. Spores
Mushrooms release microscopic spores, often in vast numbers. Carried by wind, water or animals, a few land somewhere suitable.
2. Germination
A spore germinates, sending out a fine thread called a hypha.
3. Mycelium
Hyphae branch and spread through their food source, forming mycelium. In many mushrooms, compatible threads from different spores must fuse before a fruiting body can form.
4. Growth
The mycelium spreads, feeding on wood, soil or another substrate, sometimes for months or years. See Mushroom Substrates Explained.
5. Fruiting
When conditions change, often with temperature, moisture or light, the mycelium produces a fruiting body.
6. Spore release
The fruiting body releases spores from gills, pores or spines, and the cycle begins again.
Why this matters for mushroom products
The two main stages, mycelium and fruiting body, are the two materials used in mushroom products. They differ in composition. See Fruiting Body vs Mycelium.
In cultivation
Growers recreate this cycle in controlled conditions, colonising a substrate with mycelium and then triggering fruiting. See How Cultivated Cordyceps Is Grown and How Oyster Mushrooms Grow.