Basidiospores

Basidiospores are the sexual spores produced by mushrooms, bracket fungi, puffballs and other members of the Basidiomycota. Common in the outdoor environment and introduced indoors with outdoor air. Indoor sources of basidiospores are from dry rot. Many basidiospores are allergenic based on clinic studies, but no extracts are currently available for testing and treatment.

Basidiospores are produced by basidia, with four basidiospores normally formed by each basidium. They are single celled, but vary in size and color. Basidiospores of mushroom and bracket fungi often have an asymmetric shape due to the presence of a hilar appendage (apiculus) where each spore was attached to a sterigma on the basidium. See Basidiomycota for additional details. Puffball and earthball basidiospores lack an asymmetric shape.