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HETEROTHALLISM AND SEXUALITY IN ASCOBOLUS STERCORARIUS
Author(s) -
Bistis G. N.,
Raper John R.
Publication year - 1963
Publication title -
american journal of botany
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.218
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1537-2197
pISSN - 0002-9122
DOI - 10.1002/j.1537-2197.1963.tb06567.x
Subject(s) - heterothallic , biology , mating type , homothallism , mating , botany , genetics , gene
Bistis, G. N., and J. R. Raper. (Harvard U., Cambridge, Mass.) Heterothallism and sexuality in Ascobolus stercorarius. Amer. Jour. Bot. 50(9): 880–891. Illus. 1963.—The steps in the sexual development of the heterothallic ascomycete, Ascobolus stercorarius, are: (1) induction of antheridial hyphae and antheridia; (2) induction of ascogonial hyphae and ascogonia; (3) directed growth of the trichogyne; and (4) plasmogamy. Although this sequence occurs in each of the 2 reciprocal combinations ( A –antheridial/ a ‐ascogonial and a ‐antheridial/ A ‐ascogonial), several differences between the 2 combinations have been found. The differences are especially apparent with regard to antheridial induction and the pattern of proliferation of ascogonial hyphae. A study of the specificity of the agents regulating the sexual reactions between the 2 mating‐types has confirmed previously described class‐specificity at antheridial induction (sexual activation). Experiments utilizing substituted oidia have demonstrated an absence of mating‐class specificity in trichogyne attraction and even at plasmogamy. The incipient fruiting bodies which result from illegitimate fusions ( a X a and A X A ), however, stop growing after 24 hr. This cessation of development suggests the presence of a second block to self‐fertility in the sexual process of this species.