Oospores

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of dormant reproductive cell produced by certain fungi and algae, enabling survival in unfavorable conditions
2. Structures formed by some fungi that serve as a means of asexual reproduction and can withstand adverse environments
3. Reproductive units in specific fungal species that can germinate into new organisms when conditions improve

Etymology: Its name combines two Greek roots. "Ōon" means egg, and "spora" means seed or sowing, from the verb "speirein," to sow. The "oo" marks the spore as egg-shaped, and the rest of the name identifies it as a spore. Oospores are not eggs, and their shape comes from the structure that produces them. In many fungi, a rounded female cell called an oogonium receives material from a male cell, and the fused cell develops into a thick-walled spore. These spores are often resting structures that survive dry or cold periods and germinate when conditions improve.