Transpiration and Water Uptake in the Fruit Bodies of Some Hymenomycetes.

The relationship between relative humidity and transpiration was studied in the basidiocarps of Coprinus, Amanita, Agaricus, Tricholoma, Collybia and Polyporus. Transpiration decreases with an increase in the humidity and there is virtually no transpiration in nearly saturated air. To determine the relationship between uptake and transpiration, stipes were immersed in solutions of various osmotically active substances and inhibitors. Results showed that uptake has no influence on the transpiration. Additional data suggested that uptake in a detached basidiocarp proceeds as long as the fruit body is young and healthy. Studies with fluorescein dye and mannitol showed that most transpiration occurs at the surface and edges of the hymenium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]