Spore

Spores are a hazard appearing in canonical Pikmin games. They have a variety of effects, but the most common is transforming exposed Pikmin into hostile Mushroom Pikmin that attack leaders and friendly Pikmin. Some spores don't zombify Pikmin, and can instead have special properties or carry the effects of other dangerous hazards such as, but not limited to, fire, poison, and electricity.

In Pikmin: Wide World
Spores appear in Pikmin: Wide World as a rare hazard that is most frequent in Mycelial Sepulcher and its caves. Most types of spores are harmless, but some have a hazard-based effect on Pikmin. However, one type is capable of turning Pikmin that are exposed to it into Mushroom Pikmin. Mushroom Pikmin retain the shape, resistance, and abilities of the Pikmin they once were, and are hostile to leaders, Pikmin, and enemies. Even parasitic Pikmin hosts and Captmin can become Mushroom Pikmin. However, Mushroom Pikmin can be made to revert to their original forms by spraying black nectar on them.

Brilliant Glowstalks release harmless glowing spores as they move around or are hit. Puffstalks produce purple spores that may induce panic but cannot turn Pikmin into Mushroom Pikmin. Angler Bulblaxes have Common Glowcaps growing on their back which may release harmless glowing spores as the creature moves around. Anodestools can emit electric spores. Daddy Long Legs' have poisonous spores hidden in the hairs protecting its knee joints, but they disappear when the hairs are removed. Luminous Long Legs' occasionally drop harmless glowing spores. Lastly, Puffstools can scatter purple spores that can transform Pikmin into hostile Mushroom Pikmin.

Asphyxiating Moldclump periodically spew harmless gray mold spores. Bouncy Mushrooms release harmless yellow spores when their caps are bounced off of. Browncaps, Kingcaps, and Spotcaps all release harmless white spores when they are destroyed. Colossal Glowcaps and Common Glowcaps produce a few harmless glowing spores when they are disturbed. Orbular Pollenspouts constantly spew gray mold spores that make Pikmin panic Lastly, Shockcaps may produce a few electric spores when they are disturbed or destroyed.

In Pikmin: Neo
Spores appear in Pikmin: Neo. Notably it is the sole hazard to be resisted by two types of Pikmin, White Pikmin and Cleaner Pikmin due to their body structures resisting the parasitic fungus. Spores usually take the form of a tannish mist with a similar appearance to Poison powder, however instead of choking Pikmin to death these spores convert them into hostile Puffmin. Luckily Mushroom Pikmin will turn back into normal Pikmin after a while. However in some cases like Pikmin being infected by Sporovids the host needs to be killed in order to neutralize the spores. Cleaner Pikmin can also remove the spores from these infected Pikmin. Mold could be seen as a more potent version of spores as not only does it infect more Pikmin but also is more fatal due to killing the victims after infection and reviving them from the dead.