VARIABILITY AND HYPHAL ANASTOMOSES IN HOST-SPECIFIC FORMS OF MARSSONINA POPULI (LIB.) MAGN.

Abstract

Cultural studies, including observations on anastomoses, were undertaken on host-specific forms of Marssonina populi (Lib.) Magn. The fungus appears to consist of a highly variable and unstable series of forms differing in both morphological and cultural characteristics. Cytological studies have indicated that the pathogen is a uninucleate fungus. Anastomoses, evident between most of the forms examined, frequently resulted in dicaryotization of one of the cells but the dicaryotic condition was not perpetuated.