Cytology of the life-cycle of Morchella

• Published in: Mycological research Vol. 94; no. 3; pp. 399 - 406
• Main Authors: Volk, Thomas J., Leonard, Thomas J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 1990; Elsevier
• Subjects: Agronomy. Soil science and plant productions; Biological and medical sciences; cell biology; Cytology; developmental stages; fruiting stage; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fungi; Life-cycle; Morchella; Morchella esculenta; Morel; morphogenesis; nuclei; Plant cytology, morphology, systematics, chorology and evolution; plant development; plant morphology; Thallophyta; Morel; Morchella; Cytology; Life-cycle; Fungi; Autogamy; Life cycle; Ultrastructure; Ascomycetes; Morchella esculenta; Photomicrography; Edible fungi; Thallophyta
• ISSN: 0953-7562; 1469-8102
• DOI: 10.1016/S0953-7562(09)80365-1

Various stages of the morel life-cycle are studied cytologically. Photomicrographic evidence demonstrates that the average number of nuclei per cellular compartment in vegetative hyphae of Morchella is 10–15 and that hyphal fusions are quite frequent. The resting structures, the sclerotia, are actually pseudosclerotia which form from the repeated branching and enlargement of terminal hyphae from either primary (homokaryotic) or secondary (heterokaryotic) hyphae. Photomicrographs also depict the development of fruiting body primordia. Photomicrographs of ascus development demonstrate autogamy rather than de novo heterokaryon formation by hyphal fusion in the subhymenial layer of the fruiting body. For the first time a comprehensive life-cycle diagram of the morel is introduced.