Perithecial Formation in Gelasinospora reticulispora

Action spectra for photoinduction of perithecia after different lengths of dark period were determined with apically growing mycelium of a sordariaceous fungus Gelasinospora reticulispora. When hyphae were exposed to monochromatic light in near ultraviolet and visible regions, reciprocity between intensity and exposure time was observed within the range of incident energy used. The resulting action spectrum determined after a dark period of 48 hours showed a peak at 460 nm with shoulders at 420 and 480 nm and another peak at 370 nm, indicating minima at 410, 430, and 470 nm. After 72 hours darkness the spectrum was very similar to the above, except that the major peak shifted to 450 nm and the near ultraviolet region was somewhat less effective. In both cases, wavelengths longer than 520 nm showed no effect.In addition, when irradiated with colored lamps, near ultraviolet light was relatively less effective after the 72-hour dark period than after the 48-hour dark period. The reason for this phenomenon is discussed.