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Initiation of germination in conidia of the entomopathogenic fungus, Metarhizium anisopliae

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

Published
<mark>Journal publication date</mark>04/1990
<mark>Journal</mark>Mycological Research
Issue number3
Volume94
Number of pages6
Pages (from-to)299-304
Publication StatusPublished
<mark>Original language</mark>English

Abstract

Two strains of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae and a strain of Nomuraea rileyi failed to initiate spherical growth or germ-tube production in distilled water. However, a prolonged period of soaking (up to 20 h) in distilled water accelerated spherical growth and germ-tube formation once a nutrient was provided.

The increased rate of germination of soaked M. anisopliae conidia was matched by an enhanced rate of uptake of a nutrient (N-acetyl-D[1-14C]glucosamine). Soaked conidia possessed substantially higher levels of protein and RNA synthesis than controls and showed ultrastructural changes similar to those of conidia in the early stages of germination.

It is concluded that water activates an initial pre-swelling phase of germination in M. anisopliae conidia, spherical growth and germ-tube formation being dependent on an exogenous carbon source.