Here we see the release of spores from a mature ascocarp (morel fruiting body), and the asexual lifestage that can take place.

What is unclear to morel biologists, is how morels leave the asexual phase, also known as conidia, to start being able to reproduce and form morels.

We here at the Bonito lab are setting out on:

1) Experiments on how to grow Morchella conidia in sterile environments (i.e. in a petri dish with agar)

2) Determination of how plasmogamy can occur after the asexual phase? Does it have to be two different mating type hyphae? Can conidia fertilize the opposite mating type's hyphae? Or can both occur?