basidium
/bəˈsɪdɪəm
/noun (plural basidia /bəˈsɪdɪə/)
A microscopic club-shaped spore-bearing structure produced by certain fungi.Under continuous light, the maturation starts but stops halfway: meiosis in the basidia is arrested at prophase I, the stipe elongates only slightly, and the pileus does not expand....
- Most importantly, monokaryotic hyphae can produce basidia and spores that are indistinguishable from sexually produced spores, except that they are all the same mating type.
- After a few more days of incubation, the ends of some mycelia may enlarge and form basidia within which nuclear fusion and meiosis may occur.
Origin
Mid 19th century: modern Latin, from Greek basidion, diminutive of basis (see basis).