Production Of Basidiospores Research Articles

Serologic grouping and sexual compatibility of airborne Cryptococcus neoformans.

Through the use of Anderson air samples, 214 isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans were cultured from the air in a vacant tower in a large complex of buildings in Oklahoma City. The tower contained hundreds of pigeons, a massive amount of droppings, nests with eggs and young, dying and dead pigeons. All isolates were serotype A-D and self-sterile for the production of basidiospores. Among these 193 were of the "alpha" mating type, producing basidiospores when paired with "alpha" mating type. No isolates of "alpha" mating type were found. The findings imply that the infectious particles of C. neoformans in nature are relatively small, nonencapsulated yeast cells and not basidiospores.

Scanning electron microscope study of fruit body differentiation in Schizophyllum commune

A scanning electron microscope study of Schizophyllum commune indicated that early stages of fruit body differentiation involve formation of hyphal strands and parallel growth of hyphae. The hymenium also develops early. Of these morphological changes the parallel growth of hyphae was interpreted as induced by light, strand formation by light and aeration, and differentiation of the hymenium by the prevailing nutritional conditions. In spite of the early differentiation of the hymenium, the production of basidiospores was delayed by a layer of slime covering the ventral surface until the growth of the gills. Slime also appeared to function as a controlling factor in several other phases of growth and differentiation.

Agaricostilbum: An Auricularioid Basidiomycete

SUMMARY Agaricostilbum palmicolum, originally placed in the Deuteromycetes, is shown to be a basidiomycete related to the stilboid Auriculariales. The species has a haploid yeast phase, cylindric, 4-celled basidia, and blastogenous production of basidiospores. The generic description is emended in accordance with these findings.

Teliospore germination and basidiospore formation in Gymnosporangium juniperi-virginianae: a regression model of temperature and time effects

The influence of temperature on teliospore germination and basidiospore formation in Gymnosporangium juniperi-virginianae was studied in vitro. Teliospores germinated from 8 to 30 °C. Germination was first observed after 2 h from 12–28 °C but longer periods were required at lower temperatures. Promycelia formed basidiospores by 4 h from 12 to 24 °C but not until 7 h at 8 °C. Abortive germination of teliospores, without production of basidiospores, occurred from 26 to 30 °C. No germination was observed from 2 to 6 °C. Multiple regression analyses were performed and an equation relating germination of teliospores to temperature and time was formulated.

Basidiospore Form in the British Leucopaxilleae

The tribe Leucopaxilleae was recognized by Singer (1948: 29) to be a group of related genera within the Tricholomataceae, characterized by the tricholomatoid or clitocyboid basidiocarps, non-hymeniform epicuticular layer of the pileal surface, and the production of amyloid basidiospores. Prior to the use of the amyloid reaction of the spore as a primary character for classification of the Agaricales, the species of the Leucopaxilleae were to be found amongst such diverse genera as Clitocybe (Fr.) Kummer, Lepista (Fr.) W. G. Smith, Omphalina Quilet and Tricholoma (Fr.) Kummer of the tribe Clitocybeae (Tricholomataceae), Collybia (Fr.) Kummer of the tribe Collybieae (Tricholomataceae), Hygrophoropsis (Schroet.) Maire and Paxillus Fr. (Paxillaceae), and Cantharellus Adanson ex Fr. (Cantharellaceae). At the present time the Leucopaxilleae contains eight genera recognized by Singer (1962: 142), of which all, except the monotypic North American genus Pseudoarmillariella (Singer) Singer, are known from the British Isles. Lentinellus Karsten was initially included on the basis of the amyloid verrucose spores but this genus is now generally accepted (see Maas Geesteranus, 1963: 430; Donk, 1964: 246) as being more closely related to members of the Auriscalpiaceae in the Aphyllophorales, showing similarities in the dimitic hyphal system and the presence of gloeocystidia. All species in the Leucopaxilleae are characterized by amyloid reaction of the spore wall to Melzer's reagent. It is a constant reaction, although initial treatment with ammonium hydroxide may occasionally be necessary in older collections. All species of Melanoleuca Pat. and those species of Leucopaxillus Boursier with ornamented spores show a very strong, blue-black reaction of the verrucose ornament to Melzer's reagent, whilst the smooth-spored species of Leucopaxillus, e.g. L. giganteus (Sow. ex Fr.), Singer give only a weakly amyloid reaction. The amyloid reaction is due to the presence of either an entire or a fragmenting perisporial layer. Josserand (I940: 21) demonstrated for both Leucopaxillus and Melanoleuca the existence of an ornament ('ornementation fondamentale') below the fragmenting perisporium, by removing the amyloid material with sodium hydroxide solution. However, although the underlying ornament may be well developed in spores of the Russulaceae, in Melanoleuca it was described as insignificant or non-existent. Nevertheless, such a structure was clearly demonstrated by Perreau-Bertrand (I967a: t. II H) for M. melaleuca (Pers. ex Fr.) Murr. (as M. vulgaris Pat.) using ultrathin spore sections in which a full complement of wall layer was visible, even though the wall appears very thin when observed with the light microscope.

Sclerotial formation in Corticium olivascens and other hymenomycetes

Sclerotia ofCorticium olivascens are reported and described for the first time. Examples include sclerotia collected from a stump ofPinus virginiana in Greenbelt, Maryland, and those formed in several cultures originally developed from spores produced by basidiocarps. Among outstanding characteristics of basidiocarps ofC. olivascens are the greenish or olivaceous color of the hymenial surface, constant presence of clamp-connections, development of septate cystidia, and production of nonamyloid but dextrinoid basidiospores. Cultural characteristics are described, and the negative oxidase reaction is noted.C. olivascens is a highly distinctive fungus which requires further taxonomic attention.

Morphogenesis in Schizophyllum commune. I. Effects of white light.

Reproductive differentiation in the basidiomycete Schizophyllum commune Fr. is initiated by plasmogamy and reciprocal nuclear migration and is terminated by the production of basidiospores. The work reported here has analyzed several factors that affect 2 sequential steps in reproductive differentiation: A) the formation of aggregated masses of cells, and B) the subsequent differentiation of fruiting bodies. The 2 steps are both photosensitive: A) light accelerates the formation of aggregated masses of cells; B) a short exposure of light induces nonaggregated dikaryotic cells to form mature fruiting bodies in the dark. Cultures of dikaryotic mycelia showed little or no response to light during approximately the first 60 hr of growth. Subsequent to this time, they were photosensitive. Several properties of the photoinduction of fruiting bodies were established in studies utilizing white fluorescent light. (1) The morphogenetic response (fruiting) was approximately linear with the amount of light delivered at low intensities; higher intensities elicited no further response. (2) The photoresponse did not vary when replicate cultures were irradiated at temperatures of 2 degrees , 24 degrees , or 35 degrees . (3) The induction of fruiting bodies by light is disrupted by post-induction heat-exposures of 50 degrees for 1 hr or longer. (4) Photoinduced fruiting bodies formed in distinctive rings on the mycelia and thus suggested that cells of different ages differ in their ability to be photoinduced.

THE EPIDEMIOLOGY OF THE JACK PINE – OAK GALL RUST (CRONARTIUM QUERCUUM) IN WISCONSIN

In studies of Cronartium quercuum (Berk.) Miyabe ex Shirai, temperature and moisture conditions necessary for spore production, spore germination, and oak and pine infection were determined. Seasonal development studies then revealed that a series of favorable events was necessary for an inoculum "buildup" to occur on oak. Initial infection of oak by aeciospores resulted from at least 10 hours of saturated air accompanied by free water with the temperature between 8° and 28 °C. Late spring frosts and dry weather during aeciospore dissemination limited the spread. Secondary spread by urediospores was limited by dry weather and the decreasing susceptibility of oak leaves with age. The susceptible foliage produced by sprouts from recently cut oak stumps tended to prolong uredial spread. Infection of pine was only possible when viable teliospores were present on oak. During the years 1955–1958 in central Wisconsin they were present from the first week in June until the first of July if secondary spread by urediospores did not occur, or for about 2 weeks longer if secondary spread did take place. A period of at least 13 hours of 100% relative humidity following a measurable rainfall was necessary for production and germination of basidiospores. These conditions occurred infrequently and in some years not at all in central Wisconsin.