Ultrastructure of basidiospore germination and development of intrasporal hyphae in the snow mold, Coprinus psychromorbidus

Abstract

Basidiospores of Coprinus psychromorbidus, produced for the first time in axenic culture, were germinated on potato dextrose agar in slide culture. After incubation for 24 h, all stages of germination, the development of monokaryotic and dikaryotic hyphae, and the invasion of ungerminated basidiospores were observed using standard transmission electron microscopy. Each basidiospore has a complex, layered wall and dense cell contents containing one nucleus and the normal complement of organelles, plus lipids and dense-body vacuoles. The germ tube emerges through an apical pore in the basidiospore wall. Some abnormal ungerminated spores are invaded by adjacent germling hyphae, which enter through the pore and the hilum. Key words: basidiospore, transmission electron microscopie, invasion.