On the role of the spore cell wall in the activation of Phycomyces blakesleeanus spores

Abstract

After a preincubation in concentrated glycerol solution, dormant Phycomyces spores burst when they are resuspended in water due to osmotic uptake of the solvent. Under the same conditions activated spores do not burst. No clear-cut difference in permeability toward glycerol could be found between activated and dormant spores. It is therefore suggested that the cell wall could be affected by heat shock. The finding that an osmotic shock can partially trigger spore activation also points to a role of the wall in spore activation. Nevertheless, no difference in pattern is observed in a differential scanning calorimeter when walls from dormant and activated spores are compared.