For the most part, this fungus exhibits a life cycle characteristic of basidiomycetes.
 It reproduces sexually with the mating of hyphae and produces a basidiocarp at the base of the infected host.
 This basidiocarp produces basidiospores that will further infect new hosts.
 However, Armillaria rarely spreads using this method in nature, possibly as a result of the spores being ineffective.
 In contrast, it will spread either through rhizomorphs or direct mycelial contact.
 In the case of mycelial contact, the roots of an infected host grow near enough to a new host that mycelia simply grow onto the new host and infect.
 Rhizomorphs are string-like masses of hyphae utilized if no new hosts are nearby and spread by probing through the soil towards uninfected roots.
For the most part, this fungus exhibits a life cycle characteristic of basidiomycetes.  It reproduces sexually with the mating of hyphae and produces a basidiocarp at the base of the infected host.  This basidiocarp produces basidiospores that will further infect new hosts.  However, Armillaria rarely spreads using this method in nature, possibly as a result of the spores being ineffective.  In contrast, it will spread either through rhizomorphs or direct mycelial contact.  In the case of mycelial contact, the roots of an infected host grow near enough to a new host that mycelia simply grow onto the new host and infect.  Rhizomorphs are string-like masses of hyphae utilized if no new hosts are nearby and spread by probing through the soil towards uninfected roots.
Armillaria root rot