Abstract
The meiotic prophase of ten Ascomycetes was studied by both light and electron microscopy. All ten species show a “Neurospora type” of meiosis. Two Podospora have no distinct synaptonemal complexes but synaptic structures in their nucleolus. The synaptonemal complexes of the eight other species are well differenciated and have uniform dimensions. The banded pattern of the lateral components seems to be a characteristic of Ascomycetes. The most striking observation is the specificity of this banding which can be used as a marker in interspecific crosses. Ascophanus carneus shows two kinds of synaptonemal complexes: normally between the pachytene bivalents and unusually in the ascogenous hyphae mitoses before meiosis and even before caryogamy.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aldrich, H. C., Mims, C. W.: Synaptonemal complexes and meiosis in myxo mycetes. Amer. J. Bot. 57, 935–941 (1970).
Barry, E. G.: The diffuse diplotene stage of meiotic prophase in Neurospora. Chromosoma (Berl.) 26, 119–129 (1969).
Carr, A. J., Olive, L. S.: Genetics of Sordaria fimicola. II. Cytology. Amer. J.Bot. 45, 142–150 (1958).
Dalton, A. J.: A chrome-osmium fixative for electron microscopy. Anat. Rec. 121, 121–281 (1955).
El Ani, A. S.: Ascus development and nuclear behaviour in Hypomyces solani. Amer. J. Bot. 43, 769–778 (1956).
Engels, F. M., Croes, A. F.: The synaptinemal complex in yeast. Chromosoma (Berl.) 25, 104–106 (1968).
Gillies, C. B.: Reconstruction of the Neurospora crassa pachytene karyotype from serial sections of synaptonemal complexes. Chromosoma (Berl.) 36, 119–130 (1972).
Hohl, H. R., Miura-Santo, L. Y., Cotter, D. A.: Ultrastructural changes during formation and germination of microcysts in Polysphondylium pallidum, a cellular slime mould. J. Cell Sci. 7, 285–306 (1970).
Hollande, M. A., Carruette-Valentin, J.: Appartement chromosomique et complexes synaptonématiques dans les noyaux en cours de dépolyploïdisation chez Pyrsonympha flaggellata. C. R. Acad. Sci. (Paris) 270 D, 2550–2553 (1970).
Laane, M. M.: Nuclear behaviour during meiosis and ascus formation in Penicillium striatum. Hereditas (Lund) 65, 133–158 (1970).
Lu, B. C.: The course of meiosis and centriole behaviour during the ascus development of the Ascomycete Gelasinospora calospora. Chromosoma (Berl.) 22, 210–226 (1967).
Lu, B. C.: Meiosis in Coprinus lagopus: a comparative study with light and electron microscopy. J. Cell Sci. 2, 529–536 (1967).
Menzel, M. Y., Price, J. H.: Fine structure of synapsed chromosomes in F1 Lycopersicum esculentum—Solanum lycopersicoides and its parents. Amer. J. Bot. 53, 1079–1086 (1966).
Meyer, G. F.: Fine structure of spermatocyte nuclei in Drosophila melanogaster. Europ. Regional Conf. on Electron Microscopy (Delft) 2, 951–954 (1960).
Moens, P. B.: The structure and function of the synaptinemal complex in Lilium longiflorum sporocytes. Chromosoma (Berl.) 23, 418–451 (1968).
Moens, P. B., The fine structure of meiotic chromosome polarization and pairing in Locusta migratoria spermatocytes. Chromosoma (Berl.) 28, 1–25 (1969).
Moens, P. B.s: The fine structure of meiotic chromosome pairing in natural and artificial Lilium polyploids. J. Cell Sci. 7, 55–63 (1970).
Moens, P. B.: Rapport, E.: Synaptic structures in the nuclei of sporulating yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Hansen). J. Cell Sci. 9, 665–677 (1971).
Moses, M. J.: Synaptinemal complex. Ann. Rev. Genet. 2, 363–412 (1968).
Öpik, H.: Structure, function and developmental changes in mitochondria of higher plant cells. In: Plant cell organelles, p. 47–88. New York: Academic Press 1968.
Rizet, G., Engelmann, C.: Contribution à l'étude génétique d'un Ascomycète tétrasporé: Podospora anserina. Rev. Cytol. Biol. vég. 2, 202–304 (1949).
Rossen, J. M., Westergaard, M.: Studies on the mechanism of crossing-over. II. Meiosis and the time of meiotic chromosome replication in the ascomycete Neottiella rutilans. C. R. Lab. Carlsberg 35, 233–260 (1966).
Schrantz, J. P.: Etude cytologique en microscopic optique et électronique de quelques Ascomycètes. I. Le noyau. Rev. Cytol. et Biol. vég. 33, 1–100 (1970).
Singleton, J. R.: Chromosome morphology and the chromosome cycle in the ascus of Neurospora crassa. Amer. J. Bot. 40, 124–144 (1953).
Sotelo, J. R.: Ultrastructure of the chromosomes during meiosis. In: Handbook of molecular Cytology (A. Lima-de-Faria, ed.), p. 412–434. Amsterdam: North Holland Publ. Comp. 1969.
Ting, Y. C.: Further studies of the synaptinemal complex in haploid maize. Genetics 68, Suppl. 1, s67 (Abstr.) (1971).
Volz, P. A., Heintz, C., Jersild, R., Niederpruem, D. J.: Synaptinemal complexes in Schizophyllum commune. J. Bact. 95, 1476–1477 (1968).
Westergaard, M.: Studies on the mechanism of crossing-over. I. Theoretical considerations. C. R. Trav. Lab. Carlsberg 34, 359–405 (1964).
Westergaard, M., Wettstein, D. von: Studies on the mechanism of crossing-over. IV. The molecular organization of the synaptinemal complex in Neottiella (Cooke) Saccardo. C. R. Trav. Lab. Carlsberg 37, 239–268 (1970).
Westergaard, M., Wettstei, D. von: The synaptinemal complex. Ann. Rev. Genet, (in press).
Wettstein, D. von: The synaptinemal complex and four-strand crossing-over. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 68, 851–855 (1971).
Zickler, D.: Analyse de la méiose du champignon discomycète Ascobolus immersus. C. R. Acad. Sci. (Paris) 265D, 198–201 (1967).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Zickler, D. Fine structure of chromosome pairing in ten Ascomycetes: meiotic and premeiotic (mitotic) synaptonemal complexes. Chromosoma 40, 401–416 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00399431
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00399431