MITOTIC RECOMBINATION IN BIOCHEMICAL MUTANTS OF USTILAGO HORDEI

Abstract

Data presented indicate the existence of parasexual recombination in U. hordei. Compatible combinations of mutant sporidia were employed to infect the barley host. After some time the parasite was recovered as sporidia or as teliospores. Evidence indicates that the nuclei within the infective dikaryon undergo fusion and produce diploid sporidia characterized by an indefinite Bauch test and biochemical 'wild type' appearance. It is assumed that the diploid infection sporidia may again undergo haploidizarion thereby providing parasexual recombination of parental biochemical markers. These somatic recombinants were observed among sporidia extracted and recovered from the host.