Asexual and sexual developments of Neurospora crassa on natural substrata

Concerted efforts by many researchers over a century made Neurospora crassa an attractive fungus to address many biological questions. However, we have a relatively poor knowledge of the organism's natural habitat and its life history. In an effort to expand our understanding of the life history of N. crassa, a series of experiments has been performed using natural substrata. Following wild fire, N. crassa can colonize woody substrata and follow different developmental processes depending on their natural habitats. Between the two potential inocula tested in this study, the indigenous ascospores could be more likely inoculum than the air-borne conidia for colonization after wild fire. It is also confirmed that light-perception is a fitness trait in nature. The experimental approach in this report suggests that N. crassa could be a useful organism to rigorously test ecological and evolutionary questions. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd and The British Mycological Society. All rights reserved.