Effect of polyoxin on fungi. II. Electron microscopic observations of spore germination of Alternaria kikuchiana Tanaka.

Abstract

The effect of polyoxin on spore germination of A. kikuchiana Tanaka was investigated using transmission and scanning electron microscopes. The entire spore was covered by two-layered cell wall, having a rough surface. During the initial stages of germination, the new cell wall layer being continuous with the spore inner wall layer was formed as the cell wall of germ tube. When the spore was treated with polyoxin, the entire germ tube swelled forming the bulbous structure and the outer layer occurred around the germ tube soon after the germ tube emerged. If polyoxin was absent, such an outer layer did not appear during the incubation period.