48 - Schizosaccharomyces Lindner

Abstract

This chapter focuses on Schizosaccharomyces genus and its member species. In some species of this genus, true septate hyphae develop and break into arthrospores. The asci are usually produced by somatic conjugation of vegetative cells. The ascospores are globose or short ellipsoidal and seldom cylindroidal, which may be liberated at an early stage. The member species of this species include Schizosaccharomyces japonicus, Schizosaccharomyces octosporus, and Schizosaccharomyces pombe. The conjugation of cells in Schizosaccharomyces Japonicus usually precedes the formation of asci which contain six to eight, sometimes fewer, globose to ellipsoidal ascospores. The asci are evanescent, and released ascospores may remain together in chains or clumps. Mature ascospores of some strains may be reniform to allantoid and give an amyloid reaction with Lugol's iodine. The conjugation of cells in Schizosaccharomyces octosporus usually precedes the formation of asci containing six to eight, or fewer, ascospores that are globose to short ellipsoidal. In the case of Schizosaccharomyces pombe, the conjugation of vegetative cells precedes the formation of evanescent asci containing two to four globose to ellipsoidal ascospores.