It’s All About Spore Dispersal

In the world of fungi, as with much of the natural world, it’s all about reproduction in order for the species to continue on. However, the problem for most plants and fungi is that they are stuck in one spot and can’t spread the spores which enable reproduction themselves. They must rely on exterior factors to help them reproduce.

What are spores?

Spores are tiny microscopic particles which are formed by fungi to enable reproduction of more fungi. They are much like seeds, as when they are embedded in their new home and provided with the right conditions, they will grow. This spread of spores is essential to the survival of many fungi species, especially those which thrive underground.

So how are the spores spread?

Spores can be carried by wind to a new location, however a more efficient way is through other organisms such as insects and animals. Spores will be transferred to their bodies via them eating the fungi or picked up externally when the insect lands on it. The spores are then carried to the next plant or location which the insect or animal visits.

Evolving fungi

Insects, which disperse these fungal spores, are attracted to light. Therefore it’s only natural that fungi which need their spores dispersed have evolved to produce light in order to attract insects.

In fact, this scientific study found that mushrooms have evolved over time to glow in the dark and maximize their attraction of insects at night time which could potentially carry more spores elsewhere. This light is regulated by a circadian rhythm, which allows their glow to peak when it’s dark, and go away when it’s day time. How’s that for natural evolution!

Truffles and Their Aroma

Other fungi such as truffles use different methods to attract potential spore carriers. Pigs and squirrels for example are highly attracted to the aroma which truffles give off by no accident. By finding, consuming, and digesting the truffles, their spores can easily be transferred to new locations when they are excreted. In fact, wild truffles completely depend on this method in order to get themselves to grow in new locations.

Of course, it’s not that simple to grow truffles, you also need the right environment and trees which will support them, however the aroma produced by the truffles increases their chances of being eaten and ‘dropped’ in the right location.

Browse through our blog today to find out more about truffles, their history, and handy recipes to cook them up in.

The post Why Do Some Mushrooms Glow in the Dark? appeared first on Susan Alexander Truffles.

Deer and Bears

Deer have the advantage of safely being able to consume many fungi and mushrooms which would normally be poisonous to humans.

Although bears are known for eating fish, rodents and other meat, they are actually omnivores which means they also like to eat plants, tree roots, and you guessed it – fungi. During summer they especially enjoy uncovering tree roots, tubers and mushrooms.

Rabbits and Squirrels

A squirrel’s diet is mainly made up of nuts and acorns, flowers, fruits, berries, and grass. However, squirrels also love truffle-like fungi, digging them up from the ground and leaving them to dry on tree limbs before eating them.

Rabbits also love to dig up fungi, providing them with rich nutrients which they could otherwise miss through mainly consuming grass. Squirrels, rabbits, and other small mammals and rodents which eat these fungi contribute to the ecosystem by helping to spread the spores and seeds from fungi and plants.

Slugs and Insects

Slugs and insects are attracted to the most nourishing foods such as greens and forest fruits, and therefore to mushrooms also. This relationship also enables the forest to continue its lifecycle of new growth and decay.

Some types of insects such as flies and snails help to decay wood, leaves, and waste materials so that the forest can continue to grow through the decomposing debris which falls from the trees. This allows more shoots to sprout through the forest floor and they cycle to continue.

Pigs and Wild Boars

Pigs and wild boars love the moist environment of the forest floor; however, they find it hard to travel for food in the colder months. This is why they choose to dig down for their food instead of move around, especially in winter. Fungi are the perfect solution!

Pigs and boars have the best noses when it comes to finding delicious truffles below the surface of the ground. For this reason, pigs have been used to locate truffles by humans throughout history. However, pigs find it hard to control their appetite for truffles and therefore humans have turned to specially trained dogs to hunt down truffles instead. Dogs are easier to train when it comes to not eating the truffles once found!

Truffles are of high value for many species

There is a tremendous diversity of animals known to instinctively consume fungi in order to gain valuable energy. And while some exclusively eat fungi and truffle-like fungi (mainly insects), there are others that eat it as part of their wider diet just like humans do.

Browse through our blog today to learn more about truffles or shop our online store for an ultimate truffle experience.

The post From Bears to Boars: Animals That Love Mushrooms Like We Do appeared first on Susan Alexander Truffles.

Saffron

Known for its strong flavor and color, saffron flowers only produce three red stamens, each picked carefully by hand. Iran produces 94% of the world’s supply of saffron. Due to the small amount of saffron produced, it’s price sits anywhere between $2000-$10,000 per pound depending on harvest and availability.

Vanilla

Cupcakes with edible gold will cost you hundreds of dollars a pop.

Growing and preparing vanilla is very labor intensive, making this a hot commodity. Vanilla flowers only bloom for two hours per year, the beans must be fermented for two years to release their aroma, and the orchids themselves only grow in specific areas of the world, making this a rare and labor-intensive spice. Just a few vanilla beans can cost approximately $20.

Edible Gold

Gold is a mineral that is safe to eat and very impressive to serve. Known as a luxurious and elaborate ingredient, it can be sprinkled into champagne and cocktails, or used to dust and flake over desserts for wow-factor.

Yubari King Melons

Japanese in origin, these melons are given in pairs as gifts by the Japanese. They are known to be very sweet and delicious and are graded on level of quality. The most expensive have been auctioned off for as much as $26,000, whilst you can still get yourself a ‘bargain’ at a luxury supermarket for a few hundred dollars for a lower graded melon.

Caviar

Very widely accepted as a food for the world’s elite, caviar has a price to match. The rarer the fish from which it comes, the higher the asking price. The most expensive caviar in the world is called Almas, from the rare albino sturgeon, living in Caspian Sea. As this species of fish is endangered, when available, the asking price can soar to tens of thousands of dollars per serve.

Truffles

Not easy to cultivate, difficult to find, powerful in flavor, and growing only in very specific environments, the truffle is a true delicacy for the palate. Depending on the type of truffle you purchase, you can be looking at anything in excess of $200 per serve. Luckily, there are also other truffle-flavored foods such infused oils, butters, and salts that can help curb your cravings.

A Rare Opportunity for Your Palate

Something that all these world’s most expensive food ingredients have in common is rarity, whether it be in the difficulty to cultivate, hard to locate, or short seasonality. They all have certainly distinct flavors and aromas, and a little bit of each will go a long way. Foods like these are definitely something to add to your gastronomical bucket list.

Follow our blog to learn more about truffles or shop our online truffle store today to experience the culinary gems yourself.

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