On the Physiology of Zoospore Production in Aphanomyces astaci

Aphunomgces astaci, Saprolegniaceae, the crayfish plague parasite, grows well in a buffered peptone - glucose - mineral salt medium but does not normally produce spores during growth in this medium. Sporulation is, however, easily induced by transfer to pond water. None of the components of the complete medium inhibited sporulation more than partly when tested solely or in combinations. Neither lack of oxygen, high carbon dioxide concentrations, nor osmotic phenomena could satisfactority exlpain the absence of spore formation in the complete medium. In a peptone - glucose growth medium low in phosphate and metal salts a sporulation inhibiting factor was formed by the mycelium. In this medium both good growth and good spore production could, however, occur simultaneously and spore production was here stimulated by a reduction in the oxygen tension. Liberation of formed spores into the medium was inhibited by mineral salts. It was less sensitive to lack of oxygen, respiratory inhibitors, and a factor formed during growth than was sporangial development. Development and maintenance of spore motility occurred even at very low oxygen tensions but was probably dependent upon an intact respiratory system.