Figs 1-2. Pigment in high density mycelium of Morchella esculenta.

Fig. 1. Sometimes gray ascocarp pigment formed only around a cutout in high density mycelium. Media Compositions: dextrose 3%, casein hydrolysate 0.4%, arginine HCl 0.4%, urea 0.2%, Wickerham's basal medium pH 7.0 with phosphate 2x and agar 2%.

Fig. 2. In some cases, orange pigment formed below gray pigment, as visible around the cutout. Inocula were single germinating ascospores. The petri plates were 90 mm inside diameter. Media composition: Same as Fig. 1. plus k-acetate 0.2%.

(Note. Pigmented mycelium is unheard of with mushrooms. It is an anomaly which mixes recent characteristics with an earlier evolutionary form.)