Mitosis and septum formation in the basidiomycete Helicobasidium mompa

Abstract

Mitosis in clampless, dikaryotic hyphae of Helicobasidium mompa (Basidiomycota, Auriculariales sensu lato) was studied in apical and penultimate cells by correlating light microscopic and ultrastructural observations. Mitosis lasts about 10.5 min. In penultimate cells, mitosis occurs in the base of a branch whose initiation involves rupture of the wall. The extranuclear interphase spindle pole body contains two three-layered discs. Prophase is discerned by the polarization of the nucleus into a karyokinetic and a nucleolar region. During prometaphase, the spindle pole body discs move into the plane of the nuclear envelope where they occupy gaps. The spindle pole is enclosed by a cap of endoplasmic reticulum. At metaphase, nuclei lie side by side, the nucleolus resides in a nuclear evagination, and the spindle pole body discs are five layered. At anaphase, both chromatin to pole movement and extensive spindle elongation occur, astral microtubule populations reach a maximum, and multivesicular bodies aggregate at the spindle poles. Septa contain simple pores and form at the site previously occupied by the dividing nuclei. The results are compared with mitotic cycles in higher fungi and their evolutionary, phylogenetic, and functional significance is discussed.