Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Ionic currents traverse growing hyphae and sporangia of the mycelial water moldAchlya debaryana

  • Published:
Protoplasma Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

This study explores natural ionic currents traversing hyphae and sporangia during the asexual life cycle of the mycelial water moldAchlya debaryana. Ionic current enters the extending hyphal apex at a density of 1–2μAcm−2 in the form of current spikes. Current normal to the surface enters hyphae up to 600 μm behind the growing tip. A large efflux of current lasting 1–2 minutes occurs during the homogeneous stage of sporangium development. Spore release is accompanied by a few spikes of inward current. The results obtained so far suggest that the developmental processes of hyphal elongation and sporangium formation in the asexual life cycle of water molds are correlated with particular ionic currents.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Armbruster, B. L., 1980: Sporangiogenesis and spore discharge in members of theSaprolegniaceae. Ph.D. thesis, Duke University, Durham, N. Carolina.

    Google Scholar 

  • —, 1982a: Sporangiogenesis in three genera of theSaprolegniaceae. I. Pre-sporangium hyphae to early primary spore initial stage. Mycologia74, 433–459.

    Google Scholar 

  • -1982 b: Sporangiogenesis in three genera of theSaprolegniaceae. II. Primary spore initial to secondary spore initial stage. Mycologia: manuscript accepted.

  • Bartnicki-Garcia, S., 1973: Fundamental aspects of hyphal morphogenesis. In: Microbial Differentiation (Ashworth, J. M., Smith, J. E., ed.), 23rd Symposium, Soc. gen. Microbiol.23, 245–267. London: Cambridge Univ. Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dorn, A., Weisenseel, M. H., 1982: Advances in vibrating probe techniques. Protoplasma113, 89–96.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hartog, M. M., 1888: Recent researches on theSaprolegniaceae; a critical abstract of Rothert's results. Ann. Bot. (London)2, 201–216.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heath, I. B., 1976: Ultrastructure of freshwater Phycomycetes. In: Recent Advances in Aquatic Mycology (Jones, E. B. G., ed.), pp. 603–650. London: Paul Elek.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jaffe, L. F., 1966: Electrical currents through the developingFucus egg. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.56, 1102–1109.

    Google Scholar 

  • —, 1981: The role of ion currents in establishing developmental gradients. In: International Cell Biology 1980–1981 (Schweiger, H. G., ed.), pp. 507–511. New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • —,Nuccitelli, R., 1974: An ultrasensitive vibrating probe for measuring steady extracellular currents. J. Cell Biol.63, 614–628.

    Google Scholar 

  • — —, 1977: Electrical controls of development. Ann. Rev. Biophys. Bioeng.6, 445–476.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jaffe, L. F., Robinson, K. R., Nuccitelli, R., 1974: Local cation entry and self-electrophoresis as an intracellular localization mechanism. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci.238, 372–389.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lovett, J. S., 1975: Growth and differentiation of the water moldBlastocladiella emersonii: cytodifferentiation and the role of ribonucleic acid and protein synthesis. Bacteriol. Rev.39, 345–404.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rothert, W., 1892: Die Entwicklung der Sporangien bei der Saprolegnieen. Ein Beitrag zur Kenntnis der freien Zellbildung. Beitr. Biol. Pflanzen5, 291–349.

    Google Scholar 

  • Slayman, C. L., 1965a: Electrical properties ofNeurospora crassa. Effects of external cations on the intracellular potential. J. gen. Physiol.49, 69–92.

    Google Scholar 

  • —, 1965b: Electrical properties ofNeurospora crassa. Respiration and the intracellular potential. J. gen. Physiol.49, 93–116.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stump, R. F., Robinson, K. R., Harold, R. L., Harold, F. M., 1980: Endogenous electrical currents in the water moldBlastocladiella emersonii during growth and sporulation. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.77, 6673–6677.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weisenseel, M. H., Kicherer, R. M., 1981: Ionic currents as control mechanisms in cytomorphogenesis. In: Cytomorphogenesis in Plants. Cell Biology Monographs, Vol. 8 (Kiermayer, O., ed.), pp. 379–399. Wien-New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • —,Dorn, A., Jaffe, L. F., 1979: Natural H+ currents traverse growing roots and root hairs of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). Plant Physiol.64, 512–518.

    Google Scholar 

  • —,Nuccitelli, R., Jaffe, L. F., 1975: Large electrical currents traverse growing pollen tubes. J. Cell Biol.66, 556–567.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Botanical Institute, Technical University of Karlsruhe, Germany

    Barbara L. Armbruster & M. H. Weisenseel

Authors
  1. Barbara L. Armbruster
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. H. Weisenseel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Armbruster, B.L., Weisenseel, M.H. Ionic currents traverse growing hyphae and sporangia of the mycelial water moldAchlya debaryana . Protoplasma 115, 65–69 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01293582

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01293582

Keywords

Search

Navigation