A CONVENIENT METHOD OF OBTAINING ASCOSPORES FROM BAKERS' YEAST

Abstract

The superiority of methods involving the use of sporulation media containing acetate, first introduced by Stantial and Elder, over several commonly employed methods is established. A new method for obtaining ascospores from bakers' yeast cultures is recommended involving the direct transfer of vegetative cells from a solid nutrient medium to a solid medium containing acetate. High yields of ascospores are consistently produced after seven days' incubation. This method should lend itself particularly to use in the preparation of ascospores for instructional work, and for genetic research in yeast, and may also find application in yeast taxonomy. The technique recommended is as follows: vegetative yeast cells are multiplied on tomato juice agar or on dextrose nutrient agar, and are then transferred to a solid sporulation medium containing 0.04% dextrose, 0.14% anhydrous sodium acetate, and 2% agar.