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The Effect of Ultraviolet Radiation on the Germination of Nosema algerae Vávra and Undeen (Microsporida: Nosematidae) Spores 1
Author(s) -
UNDEEN ALBERT H.,
MEER ROBERT K. VANDER
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
the journal of protozoology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.067
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1550-7408
pISSN - 0022-3921
DOI - 10.1111/j.1550-7408.1990.tb01127.x
Subject(s) - germination , spore , spore germination , biology , ultraviolet , dose , botany , horticulture , materials science , optoelectronics , pharmacology
Spores of Nosema algerae Vávra and Undeen were subjected to various dosages of 254 nm ultraviolet radiation (UV). Very high dosages of UV were required to block germination. Germination was normal immediately after UV dosages of 0.2 to 1.0 J/cm 2 , followed by a delayed effect in which both percentage germination and the intrasporal concentration of trehalose decreased with time after UV exposure. Although a few spores were germinated, most of them were inactivated (rendered temporarily unable to germinate) by exposure to UV of 1.1 J/cm 2 . Ultraviolet radiation between 1.1 and 3.4 J/cm 2 stimulated spores to germinate. However, spores were completely unable to germinate immediately after exposure to dosages above 3.8 J/cm 2 . Ammonia had little effect on stimulation by UV but was inhibitory to germination after stimulation had occurred. These results demonstrate that UV behaves like a germination stimulus and are discussed in terms of the hypothesis that germination is initiated by the breakdown of barriers between trehalose and trehalase.