Appressorium

The term appressorium (plural: appressoria ) or adhesive disc is used in biology for various structures or organs that can create close to other objects or living beings, in particular:

• The spread at the tip of germ tubes of fungal holdfasts. They are used to attach to plant surfaces. These also act as a nutrient reservoir for the pathogen. In the mechanical penetration of the appressoria Infektionshyphe serve as an abutment to allow the occurring sometimes high pressures of up to 7AT.

• Fungal hyphae in the thallus of some lichens, closely cling on algal cells.

• Attachment structures at the tendrils of some climbing plants, such as the detention slices of Parthenocissus ( Virginia creeper ).

• Adhesive structures on the fingers of some anurans.