The character of endogenous growth regulators in the course of development in the fungus Lentinus tigrinus.

Abstract

The character of endogenous growth regulators in different stages of growth and development ofLentinus tigrinus was followed by means of bioassays. The methanolic extract of differently old mycelium and fruiting body was chromatographically separated and tested for auxins by means of Avena coleoptile segments, for gibberellins by using lettuce seedlings and for cytokinins by measuring the content of chlorophyl in leaf segments of barley. Auxins were found only in young vegetative mycelium and in the growing young stalk. The level of gibberellins is more significant and it reaches the highest values in the vegetative mycelium, in the growing young stalk and in the differentiated cap. The content of auxin and gibberellin substances did not increase even in the medium after cultivation of mycelium. Bioassays of cytokinins show a slight stimulation in the vegetative mycelium and in the primordia of caps. Significant inhibition was ascertained in the fully developed stalk. The high quantities of cytokinins were found in caps when basidiospores were formed. The results show a close connection of endogenous growth substances with the growth and the development of the fungus and indicate their participation in differentiation processes.