Fine Structure of Quiescent and Germinating Aeciospores of Cronartium fusiforme

Abstract

Aeciospores of the long-cycle heteroecious rust fungus, Cronartium fusiforme have an extremely thick cell wall with striking spicules protruding from it. The wall was readily degraded by commercial chitinase, but spicules were unaffected. Quiescent spores contained 2 nuclei with distinct nuclear membranes possessing many pores. Numerous membrane-bounded lipid bodies were found both in wild-type orange and in white mutant aeciospores. An abundance of irregularly avoid mitochondria was present in quiescent spores. After glutaraldehydeosmium fixation, the surface of the mitochondria appeared to be covered with ribosomes or microtubules in a paracrystalline array, whereas after permanganate fixation only smooth outer mitochondrial membranes were noted. The latter fixative revealed abundant vesicular endoplasmic reticulum in the spore. Spores incubated at 20 C on agar produced 1-5 distinct germ tubes within 65 to 180 min. These thin-walled tubes exhibited varying degrees of branching, and reached a total hyphal length of 300 to 500 /j prior to rupturing. Emergence of germ tubes took place through a pore in the spore wall and appeared to be mainly a physical flowing of cytoplasm from the spore into the germ tube without division of nuclei of other cell organelles. On completion of germination, the protoplasm of the germ tube contained both nuclei and nearly all of the other spore contents. Mitochondria had smooth outer membranes, were greatly elongated, and possessed distinct longitudinal cristae. A limited amount of rough endoplasmic reticulum was arranged parallel to the germ tube wall. Other organelles seen in germ tubes were lipid bodies, concentric membrane figures, and numerous ribosomes. Lipid bodies appeared smaller and fewer in number than in quiescent spores.