A
basidiospore is a reproductive
spore produced by
Basidiomycete fungi. Basidiospores typically each contain one
haploid nucleus that is the product of
meiosis, and they are produced by specialized fungal cells called
basidia. In gills under a cap of one common species in the phylum of
Basidiomycota, there exist millions of basidia. Mature state of basidia has the base usually topped with four basidiospores in which contains one from the two haploid nucleus obtained from the process of
meiosis. Because of this, a single mushroom has the ability to release a billion spores. Most basidiospores are forcibly discharged, and are thus considered ballistospores.
