Britannica Sources used in this answer

How do fungi form sclerotia to survive unfavorable conditions?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Two Amanita pantherina mushrooms with brown caps covered in white spots grow among moss and fallen leaves. — fungus A pair of panther cap mushrooms (*Amanita pantherina*). Closely related to the death cap mushroom (*Amanita phalloides*), the panther cap is highly poisonous.

To survive unfavorable environmental conditions, such as extreme temperatures or moisture levels, certain fungi organize their vegetative mycelium—the mass of filaments that typically forms the fungal body—into compact, hardened structures known as sclerotia.12

These structures are formed through the interweaving of assimilative hyphae into dense, tough masses. A sclerotium is characterized by a dark-colored outer covering and a compact internal structure, which provides the necessary protection to remain dormant and persistent during periods of stress. Once conditions become favorable again, these resting bodies allow the fungus to resume growth. Examples of fungi that utilize this survival strategy include Botrytis, Rhizoctonia, and ergot (Claviceps purpurea).21