Open AccessResistance of germinating Phycomyces spores to desiccation, freezing and acids
Author(s) -
Laere André
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1986.tb01735.x
Subject(s) - spore , desiccation , phycomyces , trehalose , germination , dehydration , heat resistance , botany , cryptobiosis , frost (temperature) , horticulture , chemistry , biology , biochemistry , materials science , composite material
Phycomyces spores are remarkably resistant to desiccation, freezing and mineral acids, but this resistance gradually disappears during germination. Dehydration resistance decreases much faster in acetate‐activated spores than in heat‐activated spores. This may be related to the more extensive breakdown of trehalose in the former case. The water content of the spores doubles 10–40 min after activation in both cases. This may be related to the rapid loss of frost resistance in both heat‐ activated and acetate‐activated spores. Resistance to HCl, on the other hand, decreases only after 1 h germination, and is not related to any change in water or trehalose content of the spores.