Cytological studies reveal high variation in ascospore number and shape and conidia produced directly from ascospores in Morchella galilaea.

ABSTRACT: Spores are important as dispersal and survival propagules in fungi. In this study we investigated the variation in number, shape, size and germination mode of ascospores in Morchella galilaea, the only species of the genus Morchella known to fruit in the autumn. Based on the observation of five samples, we first discovered significant variation in the shape and size of ascospores in Morchella. One to sixteen ascospores were found in the asci. Ascospore size correlated negatively with ascospore number, but positively with ascus size, and ascus size was positively correlated with ascospore number. We noted that ascospores, both from fresh collections and dried specimens, germinated terminally or laterally either by extended germ tubes, or via the production of conidia th

SUBMITTER: Du XH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10690605 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature