Recovery of the Component Strains from Dikaryotic mycelia

Abstract

Dikaryotic mycelia of many Basidiomycetes grown in the presence of 0.15% sodium tauro-cholate or 0.12% cholic acid produce numerous sectors of their component homokaryotic strains. The effect of a bile salt or acid upon the dikaryotic mycelia of 13 different species of Basidiomycetes has been studied. Differences in the "splitting" (dedikaryotization) exist among various species and even between stocks of a given species (Schizo-phyllum commune). Phase microscope observations indicate that the "splitting" results from a disruption of the clamp connection formation process, and all species examined showed this disruption. This technique of dedikaryotization by chemical agents should prove useful in various basic studies, such as the effect of dikaryotic cytoplasm upon homokaryotic mycelia, somatic recombination, identification of unknown dikaryons by interfertility tests, etc.