Summary
The ultrastructure of a “fir” morphological mutant containing multinucleate cells is described in Schizophyllum commune. The germlings of basidiospores which arose from mating “fir” with wild-type mycelium were studied in culture by phase contrast microscopy to elucidate behavior of multinucleate cells. Nuclear division appeared synchronous from two nuclei yielding four progeny through six nuclei producing twelve products, beyond which loss of synchrony was indicated. Compensatory nuclear migration into an anucleate cell was presumed during synchronous division of nuclear aggregates in the adjacent cell of an individual germling. The migrant nucleus eventually returned to the cell of origin. However, the return route was not via the central pore of the septum but rather occurred at the juncture of the cross-wall with the germling-periphery. Ultrastructure of a partial septum in “fir” which could accommodate nuclear passage of this sort is described.
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Niederpruem, D.J., Jersild, R.A. Nuclear behavior in multinucleate Schizophyllum commune germlings. Archiv. Mikrobiol. 61, 223–231 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00446608
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00446608