Control of rapid stipe elongation by the lamellae in fruit bodies of Flammulina velutipes

Abstract

Flammulina velutipes fruit bodies only grew normally if the pileus remained on the stipe until the end of rapid elongation when about 80% of the final length had been reached. During the same period lamellae alone increased stipe growth significantly compared with total decapitation. The stipes attained three-quarters of the length of intact fruit bodies with only about one-third of all lamellae. Near the end of the normal growth period, the stipe became independent of the pileus and lamellae. Small amounts of lamellae excised during rapid elongation produced diffusate in dilute potato glucose agar which promoted growth of decapitated stipes of the same age. The activity could be detected when fruit bodies had completed two-thirds of their normal growth but was much less than at the onset of rapid elongation. Tests of diffusates from young and old lamellae on stipes of different ages showed that the declining influence of lamellae in aging fruit bodies is associated both with decreasing production of the growth-promoting factor and decreasing response of stipes to an external supply of active diffusate. Neither pilear context nor any part of young or old stipes released growth-promoting diffusate.