Tip growth occurs in algae (e.g., Acetabularia acetabulum), fungi (hyphae) and plants (e.g. root hairs and pollen tubes).
Tip growth is a process that has many similarities in diverse walled cells such as pollen tubes, root hairs, and hyphae.
Fungal hyphae extend continuously at their extreme tips, where enzymes are released into the environment and where new wall materials are synthesised.
The rate of tip extension can be extremely rapid - up to 40 micrometres per minute.
It is supported by the continuous movement of materials into the tip from older regions of the hyphae.