Genetic analysis by means of the parasexual cycle in Aspergillus niger

Abstract

An investigation of mitotic segregation and recombination in A. niger gave the following results:1. Thirty-one non-allelic markers have been assigned to six linkage groups (containing 11, 9, 6, 3, 1 and 1 markers respectively) by the analysis of haploid mitotic segregants from synthesized diploids.2. The sequence of nine markers in one linkage group was determined and some of the map intervals were estimated by the analysis of haploids, recombinants for linked markers.3. Almost all the haploid segregants were obtained on medium supplemented with the aminoacid analogue, p-fluoro-phenylalanine, the action of which is interpreted as an induction of chromosome losses.4. The rates of mitotic crossing-over and haploidization are much higher than in the sexual species A. nidulans and the data support Pontecorvo's (1958) suggestion that the parasexual cycle can be a substantial alternative to the sexual cycle.