Fungus propagules in plastids: the mycosome hypothesis

Authors

  • Peter R. Atsatt Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Irvine, USA

Keywords:

Aureobasidium pullulans, fungi, plastids, Mycosomes, someangia

Abstract

A stress-induced “mycosome”phase of Aureobasidium pullulans consisting of minute reproductive propagules that may revert directly to walled yeast cells is described. Mycosomes detected by light- and electronmicroscopy reproduce within senescent plant plastids, and display three developmental pathways: wall-less cells (protoplasts), yeast cells, or membrane-bounded spherules that harbor plastids. Widespread in plant and algal cells, mycosomes are produced by both ascomycete and basidiomycete fungi.

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Published

2010-03-09

Issue

Section

Research Articles