The Influence of Glucose Availability on Events during Germination of Syncephalastrum racemosum Sporangiospores

Abstract

Germination of S. racemosum sporangiospores was studied in shake flask and batch fermenter cultures. In the presence of glucose, spore swelling preceded outgrowth of germ tubes; dry weight increased markedly only at the time of germ tube emergence. Glucose was essential for initiation of these events. Swelling and germ tube emergence quickly ceased when glucose-grown cultures were shifted down to non-permissive glucose-free medium. Spore swelling was not a prerequisite for germ tube emergence. Analysis of size distributions within populations of partially germinated spores indicated that larger spores germinated first.