What does chlamydospore mean?
A chlamydospore is a thick-walled, asexual spore produced by many species of fungi as a durable survival structure. Formed when a segment of a fungal hypha swells and develops a dense, often darkened wall, it allows the fungus to endure harsh conditions — freezing, drying, or a lack of host plants — sometimes persisting in soil for years. When conditions become favourable again, the chlamydospore germinates and resumes growth. The term is standard in mycology and plant pathology, where chlamydospores are important because their longevity makes certain fungal pathogens, such as Fusarium wilt agents, extremely difficult to eradicate from farmland. Derived from the Greek words for 'cloak' and 'seed', the word reflects the spore's protective covering. Though strictly technical, it is an essential term for understanding how fungi overwinter and spread.
nounA thick-walled, asexual resting spore produced by many fungi, capable of surviving unfavourable conditions such as cold or drought for extended periods before germinating.
- A thick-walled asexual resting spore of a fungus, formed by the swelling and wall-thickening of a hyphal cell, which persists through adverse conditions and germinates when they improve.
"The fungus survives the dry season as chlamydospores buried in the soil."
"Fusarium oxysporum persists in infested fields for years as resilient chlamydospores."
"Under the microscope, the chlamydospores appeared as large, darkly pigmented cells scattered along the hyphae."
Regular English plural; used freely in mycological and pathological contexts, often preceded by quantifiers such as 'numerous' or 'dormant'.
"Soil samples revealed abundant chlamydospores even after three fallow seasons."
Some fungi can wait years in the dirt as chlamydospores — dormant, armored spores that spring to life the moment conditions turn favourable.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of chlamydospore
The word combines Greek 'chlamys' (χλαμύς), meaning a cloak or mantle, with 'spore', from Greek 'spora' (σπορά), meaning seed or sowing. It was coined in nineteenth-century scientific Latin as mycologists classified the various forms of fungal spores, the 'cloak' element referring to the thick protective wall encasing the spore cell. The same root gives us 'chlamydia', named for its cloak-like appearance under the microscope, while the 'spore' element recurs throughout biology in terms such as 'endospore' and 'sporangium'.
Related word forms
How chlamydospore is actually used
Strictly technical vocabulary used almost exclusively in mycology, plant pathology, and microbiology; it is rare in general writing and would typically be glossed on first use for lay audiences.
Easily confused with chlamydospore
A conidium is a thin-walled asexual fungal spore not adapted for long-term survival, whereas a chlamydospore is thick-walled and functions specifically as a resting stage.