Distribution
Ubiquitous;
cosmopolitan.
Approx. 10 species.
Where Found
Tree leaves, soil, rotting fruit, other plant materials. Associated with lesions caused by other plant parasites.
Mode of Dissemination
Wet spore. Ballistospores are forcibly discharged during high humidity.
Growth Indoors
Grows on a variety of substrates. Requires very wet conditions.
Industrial Uses
Not known.
Other Comments
Sporobolomyces is a basidiomycete (active spore release in times of high humidity). If culturable sampling is conducted on a rainy day, indoor counts may be very high. If repeat sampling is carried out on a dry day at the same location, Sporobolomyces counts may be drastically reduced.
Allergens
Known allergen.
Type I and Type III allergies.
Potential Opportunist or Pathogen
Implicated as a cause of dermatitis. Other disease associations are unclear.
Potential Toxin Production
Not known.
Growth/Culture Characteristics
Grows well on general fungal media. Colonies are commonly in shades of peach, pink, and salmon; characteristic satellite colonies are produced around the main colony as a result of forcibly released ballistospores.
Spore Trap Recognition
These spores are counted as basidiospores on spore trap slides.
Tape Lift Recognition
Indistinguishable from other colorless basidiospores.
However, presumptive identification is possible if spores are seen en masse from an area of active growth.