NUTRITION AND SEXUAL REPRODUCTION IN THE WATER MOLD ACHLYA

The entire sexual reproductive progression in the heterothallic water mold Achlya ambisexualis Raper occurs in the absence of exogenous nutrients. Mated male and female mycelia, previously grown on a chemically defined medium, can utilize endogenous materials for the formation and maturation of sexual reproductive structures. Under these conditions the initiating sexual hormone antheridiol, produced by the female, exerts its morphogenetic effect on male mycelium in the absence of exogenous nutrients.