Phenotypic variability and community interactions of germinating Streptomyces spores.

ABSTRACT: A case can be made for stochastic germination and interactions among germinating spores as beneficial germination strategies in uncertain environments. However, there is little data on how widespread, species-specific or diverse such phenomena are. Focusing on Streptomycetes, a platform was developed for quantification of germination and early growth within communities of spores. We found that the germination process is stochastic at three levels: spores vary in their germination times, mycelium networks grow at different rates, and a fraction of germlings stall their growth shortly after germination. Furthermore, by monitoring how these stochastic properties are affected by spore density and chemicals released from spores, germination interactions were quantified for four species. Stochas

SUBMITTER: Xu Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5429633 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature