Contribution to the Cytology of Hymenomycetes. VI. Karyological Studies in Flammula Dilepis B. & Br.

Abstract: SUMMARY1. The karyological phenomena in the life-cycle of Fomes lividus Kalchbr., a resupinate member of the family Polyporaceae has been studied in detail.2. The young basidium is distinctly binucleate. This dikaryotic condition comes to an end with their fusion to form a synkaryon. The synkaryon first undergoes an interphasic enlargement followed by the appearance of chromatic materials as reticulate structure. Subsequently, from the reticulum typical chromosomes (2 n = 6) are formed. A haploid chromosome set constituting a genome (n = 3) forms a daughter nucleus at each pole. The orientation of the spindle of the first division of meiosis (heterotypic) is more or less transverse while in the second division (homotypic) it shows irregularities. A third nuclear division occurs forming the eight nucleate condition of the basidium. Four of these eight nuclei migrate into four developing basidiospores while the other four degenerate in the collapsing basidium. The nucleus within the basidiospore often divid...

Abstract: With a view to s tudy the nuclear behaviour in the different stages of the life-cycle of Trametes lactinea BERK., a wood-rotting member of Polyporaceae, an investigation has been undertaken and the present paper forms a part of the series already started by BANEg~E and his co-workers (1955, 1956, 1960) in this laboratory. I t has already been pointed out in previous publications that karyological studies on members of Po]yporaceae so far are very limited as will be evident from the admirable survey of the works done in this direction in recent years by OLIVE (1953). Such studies among the Hymenomycetes have assumed a particular interest due to the presence of a number of phases in the life-cycles in this group of fungi. Further, these studies have increasingly become indispensible for understanding the true nature of sexuality present among them.