Correlation between β-carotene content, several physical factors and the formation of zygospores in Mucor spp.

Abstract

Mating experiments were performed to study the correlation between carotene content in the mycelium of strains of Mucor and zygospore production. The dominance of (-) strains in the M. circinelloides group and (+) strains in the M. hiemalis group was observed. Zygospore production was possible under both light and dark conditions, irrespective of temperature and media. Interspecific crosses between M. odoratus and M. hiemalis revealed the close relation between the two species.