The First Record of Dynamics of Male-Female Nuclear Fusion in Viable Tobacco Central Cell During in Vitro Fertilization

In vitro double fertilization in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. ) was carried out and one of its significant events, the dynamics of bisexual nuclear fusion in the viable central cell, was observed by video- enhanced microscopy for the first time. The observation revealed that after in vitro fertilization the male nucleus was first fused with one of the polar nuclei, then the other. The whole fusion process could be finished within two seconds. Morphologically the fusion was very similar to common protoplast fusion mediated by polyethylene glycol. It also went through a series of processes, namely touch, adherence, membrane fusion and content mixture. The male nucleolus moved closely towards the female one but no further fusion was recorded although eventually a big nucleolus was observed in the primary endosperm nucleus. The technique for in vitro fertilization and the observation of the nuclear fusion process may enable us to peep at the mechanism of male and female gamete fusion.     

MEGAGAMETOPHYTE DEVELOPMENT IN LOTUS CORNICULATUS,L. CONIMBRICENSIS,AND THEIR PROTOPLAST FUSION HYBRID

The development of early ovules, megasporogenesis, and megagametogenesis in Lotus corniculatus L. (2n = 4x = 24), L. conimbricensis L. (2n = 2x = 12), and their protoplast fusion hybrid were studied. The protoplast fusion hybrid plant was known to be completely male sterile and appeared female sterile. The objectives of this study were to examine the development of the ovules and megagametophytes of the protoplast fusion hybrid of L. corniculatus × L. conimbricensis and to compare the development of the ovules and megagametophytes of the fusion hybrid with that of the parent types. The normal development of the ovules and megagametophytes of L. corniculatus, L. conimbricensis, and their protoplast fusion hybrid were similar to those of several other species of Fabaceae. Approximately 24% of the protoplast fusion hybrid ovules developed into apparently normal megagametophytes beyond the critical reduction divisions. The abortion of ovules in the protoplast fusion hybrid occurred at any stage of megasporogenesis or megagametogenesis, but most abortions appeared to be due to postmeiotic failures. Evidence that normal-appearing megagametophytes of the fusion hybrid are capable of being fertilized and forming zygotes is needed.     

Genetic interactions in Streptomyces rimosus mediated by conjugation and by protoplast fusion

The development of a protoplast fusion technique for oxytetracycline-producing Streptomyces rimosus strains, and its evaluation for the application for a breeding programme, has been described. Treatment of S. rimosus protoplasts with 40% (w/v) PEG 1550 for 30 min gave optimal numbers of recombinants ranging from 1 to 10% of the total progeny. Therefore, by comparison with conjugation, protoplast fusion increased the frequency of recombination by two to three orders of magnitude. The proportion of multiple crossover classes amongst recombinants was higher, by a factor of ten, after protoplast fusion (13.3%) than after conjugation (1.5%). Participation of less frequent complementary genotype doubled from 9.0% in conjugation to 17.9% in protoplast fusion. Overall, this suggested that the opportunities for crossing over in a fusion of S. rimosus protoplasts were spatially and/or temporally extended leading to a loosening of linkage with a near-random assortment of genotypes in a cross. However, by minimizing the multiple crossover classes and calculating allele frequency gradients, it was shown that the protoplast fusion technique allows arrangement of genetic markers on the S. rimosus chromosome. These are ideal characteristics for the recombination of divergent lines in a strain improvement programme.     

CONJUGATION IN SPIROGYRA1

Conjugating filaments of Spirogyra were examined with both light and electron microscopes. Initially 2 or more filaments of Spirogyra were attached by mucilagenous material. Papillae appeared first in one filament and then in adjacent positions on the other filament. Subsequent growth of papillae separated the conjugating filaments; wall microtubules disappeared in papillae as they elongated. Golgi activity then increased markedly only in the male filament; mucilage production by these Golgi coincided with contraction of the male gamete from its cell wall and may be responsible for its subsequent migration. The end walls separating papillae dissolved to form the conjugation tube, allowing gamete union. The male protoplast then migrated through the tube and further cytoplasmic condensation formed an elliptical-shaped zygote. During the migration phase, zygote wall formation was initiated and numerous active Golgi apparently contributed material to it. Early zygote maturation was characterized by rapid wall formation and an increase in lipid droplets.     

Cytological Studies of the Double Fertilization in Rice

Detailed studies on the process of double fertilization in rice were conducted in the present work. The results are summarized as follows: 1. In the embryosac 30 minutes after anthesis, the pollen tube has already reached the micropyle in every specimen. In some cases, it has even entered further into the embryosac and discharged its contents, including the two male gametes. 2. 1½ hours after anthesis, the male gamete enters into the egg cell. As soon as it comes in contact with the egg nucleus, it increases in size. 2 hours after anthesis, the male nucleus is found inside the female one. A male nucleolus is now clearly discernible. 3. The male nucleolus is gradually growing until it reaches the size of the female one, and then the fusion of the two takes place. The fusion is generally completed and the zygote is formed 7 hours after anthesis. 4. The first mitotic division of the zygote occurs 9 hours after anthesis. 5. The fusion of the male gamete and the polar nucleus proceeds in a similar way as that of the male and female gametes, but it takes a much shorter time usually being completed within 3 hours after anthesis. 6. The male gamete enters into one of the polar nuclei and reveals its nucleolus which increases rapidly in size and then unites with that of the polar nucleus. As soon as the union is completed, the nuclear membrane between the closely contacted parts of the two polar nuclei disappears and the primary endosperm nucleus is formed. 7. The first mitotic division of the primary endosperm nucleus begins right after its formation. 8. With the fusion of the male and female gametes and the development of the zygote, the mitochondria in the cytoplasm surrounding the nucleus increase in size and number. However, in the central cytoplasm about the polar nuclei they show no notice- able change during the fertilization process. 9. Based on the facts that in the embryosac a secondary pollen tube is often seen in every stage of the fertilization process and that additional nucleoli are also observed sometimes in the egg nucleus, the authors believe that polyspermy most probably exists in rice plants, and that this may be one of the causes of polyploid plants often found in rice field as reported by several authors.     

The transfer of cytoplasmic male sterility to winter-type oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) by protoplast fusion

‘Polima’ cytoplasmic male sterility (cms) was transferred in one step from spring to winter lines of oilseed rape (Brassica. napus L.) by protoplast fusion. The transfer was confirmed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of cytoplasmic DNA. Amphidiploid individuals with normal female fertility were recovered. The regenerated plants retained the winter habit. All traits studied were stable through subsequent sexual generations. The introduction of cms to winter lines by a conventional backcross normally takes 3 years; a similar alloplasmic substitution was achieved in approximately 9 months by protoplast fusion.     

Evolution of intra‐ejaculate sperm interactions: do sperm cooperate?

Sperm are often considered to be individuals, in part because of their unique genetic identities produced as a result of synapsis during meiosis, and in part due to their unique ecology, being ejected away from the soma to continue their existence in a foreign environment. Selection at the level of individual sperm has been suggested to explain the evolution of two enigmatic sperm phenotypes: sperm heteromorphism, where more than one type of sperm is produced by a male, and sperm conjugation, where multiple sperm join together for motility and transport through the female reproductive tract before dissociation prior to fertilization. In sperm heteromorphic species, only one of the sperm morphs typically participates in fertilization, with the non‐fertilizing “parasperm” being interpreted as reproductive altruists. Likewise, in species with sperm conjugation, high levels of sperm mortality have been suggested to be required for conjugate break‐up and this has been considered evidence of kin‐selected altruism. However, it is unclear if sperm possess the heritable variation in fitness (i.e. are individuals) required for the evolution of cooperation. We investigate the question of sperm individuality by focusing on how sperm morphology is determined and how sperm conjugates are formed. Concentrating on sperm conjugation, we discuss functional hypotheses for the evolutionary maintenance of this remarkable trait. Additionally, we speculate on the potential origins of sperm heteromorphism and conjugation, and explore the diversification and losses of these traits once they have arisen in a lineage. We find current evidence insufficient to support the concept of sperm control over their form or function. Thus, without additional evidence of haploid selection (i.e. sperm phenotypes that reflect their haploid genome and result in heritable differences in fitness), sperm heteromorphism and conjugation should be interpreted not as cooperation but rather as traits selected at the level of the male, much like other ejaculatory traits such as accessory gland proteins and ejaculate size.     

Stable inheritance and expression of the CMS traits introduced by asymmetric protoplast fusion

The donor-recipient protoplast fusion method was used to produce cybrid plants and to transfer cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) from two cytoplasmic male-sterile lines MTC-5A and MTC-9A into a fertile japonica cultivar, Sasanishiki. The CMS was expressed in the cybrid plants and was stably transmitted to their progenies. Only cytoplasmic traits of the male-sterile lines, especially the mitochondrial DNAs, were introduced into the cells of the fertile rice cultivar. More than 80% of the cybrid plants did not set any seeds upon selfing. Sterile cybrid plants set seeds only when they were fertilized with normal pollen by hand and yielded only sterile progenies. This maternally inherited sterility of the cybrid plants showed that they were characterized by CMS. The CMS of cybrid plants could be restored completely by crossing with MTC-10R which had the single dominant gene Rf-1 for restoring fertility. These results indicated that CMS was caused by the mitochondrial genome introduced through protoplast fusion. The introduced CMS was stably transmitted to their progenies during at least eight backcross generations. These results demonstrate that cybrids generated by the donor-recipient protoplast fusion technique can be used in hybrid rice breeding for the creation of new cytoplasmic male-sterile rice lines.     

In vitro double fertilization in Nicotiana tabacum (L.): polygamy compared with selected single pair somatic protoplast and chloroplast fusions

In vitro polygamy was studied mainly by using isolated sperm and central cells of tobacco in order to elucidate the mechanism that might be involved in preventing in vivo polygamy. In 17.5% 4000 M.W. polyethylene glycol, only when two sperm cells were made close enough to each other and adhered to a female cell simultaneously was polygamy possible. If one sperm cell fused with the egg or central cell, within 30 min another sperm cell could not fuse with the same egg or central cell. Similar phenomena were found in selected single somatic cell fusion. When more than two protoplasts adhered to each other simultaneously, fusion was always successful; after two protoplasts fused, within 30 min the fusion products could not fuse with another protoplast under the same conditions. This comparative study revealed this characteristic to be shared by both sexual and somatic cell fusion. However, after cytoplasm reorganization was complete in the fusion product, it was possible for the fusion product to fuse with the third protoplast. This indicates that the obstruction to additional fusion was present only during a certain period after the preceding fusion under certain condition. The possible reason for the effect is discussed. Received: 7 March 2000 / Revision accepted: 15 June 2000     

The Fusion of Male and Female Nuclei in Fertilization of Higher Plants

Studies on the fusion of male and female nuclei in fertilization of Helianthus an- nuus L., Triticum aestivan L., Gossypium hisutum L., Hosta caerulea Tratt., and Pinus tabulaeformis Carr. were made in the present work. The results are summarized as follows: 1. The essential process of the fusion of male and female nuclei during syngamy in four species of angiosperms studied may' be generalized as follows: (1) the male nucleus made contact with the female one, (2) followed by the fusion of nuclear membranes between the male and female nuclei. (3) then the despiralization of male spireme happened and male nucleolus made its appearance inside of the fertilized egg nucleus (4) the male chromatin dispersed and make its appearance indistinguishable from that of the female chromatin, (5) the male and female nucleoli fused together to form a larger nucleolus as a sign of completion of the fusion of the two nuclei. In the first mitotic division of the zygote there was only one common mitotic spindle. 2. The essential process of the fusion of egg and sperm nuclei during syngamy in a gymnosperm-Pinus tabulaeformis could also be outlined as follows: (1) the sperm nucleus made contact with the egg nucleue, (2) the fusion of nuclear membranes happened between the male and female nuclei, (3) the male and female ehromatins condensed to form two separate groups of chromatin threads together with the very apparent apperance of the male and female nucleoli at this stage, (4) the male and female chromosomes grouped respectively in their own spindles while both nucleoli disappeared, (5) then the two spindles fused together and all the chromosomes arranged to form a common equatorial plate, (6) finally two daugter nuclei resulted from the mitotic division. 3. Based on the facts that there were two different patterns of the fusion of male and female nuclei in fertilization discribed, all of these accounts are in general accord with the condition usually described that there are two types of fertilization, the pre- mitotic and postmitotie syngamy in higher plants. The type of angiosperm fertilization and the mechanism of promoting the zygote to divide after fertilization are discussed, and the nuclear fusion in sexual reproduction has been compared with that of somatic cell hybridization.     

Kinetic studies on the initial contraction dependent high ATPase activity of actomyosin molecules

In contracting (superprecipitating) clearing and fully contracted (previously superprecipitated) actomyosin molecules the presteady state phosphate burst was found to be 2 nanomoles inorganic phosphate (Pi) per nanomole myosin. In these muscle models a significant difference in the Mg2+ ATPase activity was found following the initial phosphate burst. Between 120 and 800 milliseconds after the commencement of the reaction the Mg2+ ATPase activity of contracting actomyosin molecules was 5-10 times greater than that of the fully contracted or clearing actomyosin molecules. In the same time interval the rate of turbidity increase of the contracting actomyosin molecules was about 10 fold greater than during the remainder of the time to reach maximal superprecipitation. This high initial ATPase activity found to be present only in the contracting actomyosin molecules and coinciding with the high rate of the velocity of contraction provides sufficient energy for contraction. We propose that this high Mg2+--ATPase activity following the initial burst and included as a part of "conventional" steady state ATPase activity is the source of energy for muscular contraction. Calculation of kinetic and thermodynamic constants indicates that the contracting actomyosin molecule is subjected to a conformational change. As a consequence of contraction the complementarity of the enzyme site to the intermediate complex decreases about 100 fold. Thus the contracted molecules temporarily become relatively refractive to provide energy for the contractile process. In our opinion these findings are important with regard to muscular contraction.     

Formation of primary sperm conjugates in a haplogyne spider (Caponiidae,Araneae) with remarks on the evolution of sperm conjugation in spiders

Sperm conjugation, where two or more sperm are physically united, is a rare but widespread pheno-menon across the animal kingdom. One group well known for its different types of sperm conjugation are spiders. Particularly, haplogyne spiders show a high diversity of sperm traits. Besides individual cleistospermia, primary (synspermia) and secondary (coenospermia, “spermatophore”) sperm conjugation occurs. However, the evolution of sperm conjugates and sperm is not understood in this group. Here, we look at how sperm are transferred in Caponiidae (Haplogynae) in pursuit of additional information about the evolution of sperm transfer forms in spiders. Additionally, we investigated the male reproductive system and spermatozoa using light- and transmission electron-microscopy and provide a 3D reconstruction of individual as of well as conjugated spermatozoa. Mature spermatozoa are characterized by an extremely elongated, helical nucleus resulting in the longest spider sperm known to date. At the end of spermiogenesis, synspermia are formed by complete fusion of four spermatids. Thus, synspermia might have evolved early within ecribellate Haplogynae. The fused sperm cells are surrounded by a prominent vesicular area. The function of the vesicular area remains still unknown but might be correlated with the capacitation process inside the female. Further phylogenetic and functional implications of the spermatozoa and sperm conjugation are discussed.     

Differences in the mechanism for high- versus moderate-density fibroblast-populated collagen lattice contraction

The free-floating fibroblast-populated collagen lattice (FPCL) model introduced by Bell contains 0.5 x 10(5) cell/ml and here is defined as a moderate-density FPCL (MD-FPCL). One modification of the model is to increase the cell density by a factor of 10, where 5 x 10(5) cells/ml defines a high-density FPCL (HD-FPCL). The initial detection of HD-FPCL contraction is 2 h, whereas MD-FPCL is later, 6 h. A contracted HD-FPCL has a doughnut-like appearance, due to the high density of cells accumulating at the periphery. A contracted MD-FPCL is a flattened disc. The compacted collagen of MD-FPCL lattice exhibits a strong birefringence pattern due to organized collagen fiber bundles. In contracted HD-FPCL, a minimal birefringence develops, indicating minimal organization of collagen fiber bundles. MD-FPCL contraction was reduced with less than 10% serum; the disruption of microtubules, uncoupling of gap junctions, inhibition of tyrosine kinases, and addition of a blocking antibody to alpha2beta1 collagen integrin. Making HD-FPCL with only 1% serum or including the inhibitory agents had only minimal affect on lattice contraction. On the other hand, platelet-derived growth factor stimulated HD-FPCL contraction but had no influence on MD-FPCL contraction. It is suggested that the mechanism for HD-FPCL contraction is limited to the process of cells spreading. HD-FPCL contraction is independent of collagen organization, microtubules, gap junctions, alpha2beta1 integrin, and tyrosine phosphorylation. MD-FPCL contraction involves collagen organization and is optimized by the involvement of microtubules, gap junctions, alpha2beta1 integrin, and tyrosine phosphorylation. When studying cell physiology in a collagen matrix, cell-density influences need to be considered.     

Single-Pair Fusion of Various Combinations Between Female Gametoplasts and Other Protoplasts in Nicotiana tabacum

This paper reports an enzymatic maceration-osmotic shock method for isolation of tobacco embryo sac and its component cell protoplasts, and also a new method for fusion between single pairs of selected mesophyll protoplasts using polyethylene glycol (PEG) as on inducing agent. An integration of these two methods has led to the successful fusion of female gametoplasts with other kinds of protoplasts. The female gametoplasts described here, in a broad sense, include the egg cell (E), central cell (C) and synergid (S). One of the female gametoplasts was selected and fused with another female, male (generative cell, G) or somatic (mesophyll, M)protoplast. Various combinations were involved: E+S, E+C, E +G, E+M, C+C, C+S, C+G, C+M, S+S, S+G, S+M, etc. Briefly, the authors were able to choose any desired combination to realize single-pair fusion by the new PEG method. For the purpose of culturing such fusion products that were limited in number, the authors had done some preliminary experimets using mesophyll protoplasts as feeder cells. Two methods were adopted: the microdrop culture, and the millicell culture with feeder cells. The mesophyll protoplasts were precultured for 2—3 days in large for population expansion before they were used as feeder cells. One or several protoplasts were cultured in a microdrop or a millicell and were induced formation of small cell clusters. This result indicated that the culture methods might also be suitable for culturing the products from fusion of female gametoplasts and other protoplasts in this plant species.     

Protoplast fusion: a tool for intergeneric gene transfer in bacteria

Protoplasts can be isolated from bacterial cells by digestion of the cell wall with the help of lysozyme in presence of osmotic stabilizers. Fusion of protoplasts can be induced by chemical fusogens like polyethylene glycol. The electrofusion technique has been reported in bacteria in which the fusion frequency is much higher than that obtained by PEG induced protoplast fusion. This technology allows recombination to take place not only between related species but also between unrelated genera and is of great potential in the breeding and improvement of industrial strains. This review includes the information and developments on the protoplast fusion in bacteria with special reference to genetic recombination by protoplast fusion between phylogenetically unrelated bacteria.     

Studies on conjugation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Spirogyra</Emphasis> using monoclonal culture

We succeeded in inducing conjugation of Spirogyra castanacea by incubating algal filaments on agar plate. Conjugation could be induced using clone culture. The scalariform conjugation was generally observed, while lateral conjugation was rarely. When two filaments formed scalariform conjugation, all cells of one filament behaved as male and those of other filament did as female. Very rarely, however, zygospores were formed in both of pair filaments. The surface of conjugation tube was stained with fluorescently labeled-lectins, such as Bandeiraea (Griffonia) simplicifolia lectin (BSL-I) and jacalin. BSL-I strongly stained the conjugation tubes, while weakly did the cell surface of female gamete first and then that of male gamete. Jacalin stained mainly the conjugation tubes. Addition of jacalin inhibited the formation of papilla, suggesting some important role of jacalin-binding material at the initial step of formation of the conjugation tubes.     

The Development of Gynoecium after Anthesis and Fertilization in Eleutherococcus senticosus (Araliaceae)

The development status of gynoecia in Eleutherococcus senticosus flowers is different from that in ordinary plants. Female gametophytes of E. senticosus have not become mature until the 6th day after anthesis. On the 6th day, 82.25% of embryo sacs in female plants, and 67.25％ of those in hermaphroditic plants become mature, while the rest are sterile, immature or degenerated with no fertilized embryo sacs observed. At the same time, all embryo sacs degenerated and flowers withered in male plants. On the 7th day, a few embryo sacs in female and hermaphroditic plants start being fertilized. Accompanying the differentiation of embryo sacs, styles of female and hermaphroditic flowers start to expand and their nectaries become mature gradually. After the 4th or 6th day of anthesis, stigmatic papillae become conspicious and stigmata become white and open. In the meantime, the stigmata become receptive and the nectaries get active or reactive. By the 9th or 10th day, 40～65 ％ of embryo sacs in female plants and 25～41% of those in hermaphroditic plants have been fertilized. The whole process of fertilization in E. senticosus was observed. About 2 or 3 days after pollination, the two sperm nuclei start to fuse with the egg and the secondary nucleus. The fertilization of E. senticosus belongs to the premitotic type of syngamy. The essential process of the fusion of male and female nuclei during syngamy may be generalized as follows: (1) the contacting of male nucleus with the female one; (2) the fusion of nuclear membranes between the male and female nuclei; (3) the despiralization of male spireme and the appearance of male nucleolus inside the fertilized female nucleus; (4) the dispersion of male chromatin and the mergence with the female chromatin, which is the sign of completion of the fusion of the two nuclei. In addition, degeneration types of mature embryo sacs were observed. And typical polyspermy and a series of cases in which extra sperms enter the em-bryo sac are recorded.     

Histology of the fusion area between the parasitic male and the female in the deep-sea anglerfish Neoceratias spinifer Pappenheim, 1914 (Teleostei, Ceratioidei)

The article deals primarily with the histology of the fusion area between the head of the male and the skin of the female in two female Neoceratias spinifer, each of which had a single parasitic male attached. In this area, comprising the whole flattened upper part of the male head, the dermis of the male is completely fused with that of the female, leaving no remnants of the epidermis of either. In all other known cases permanent attachment of the parasitic male is accomplished by fusion of separate outgrowths from the male snout and lower jaw and the female skin. In the fusion area of N. spinifer two interconnected blood vascular plexus are present, the one located in the connective tissue of the male head, the other in that of the female skin. It is not known, however, whether the plexus in the female skin is provided with blood from the female blood vascular system, i.e. there is no critical proof of a real continuity between the female blood vascular system and that of the male. The eyes of both parasitic males are very degenerate. There is no histological evidence of degenerative changes in the male digestive system, heart or gills.     

SEXUAL PROCESSES AND PHYLOGENETIC RELATIONSHIPS OF A HOMOTHALLIC STRAIN IN THE CLOSTERIUM PERACEROSUM–STRIGOSUM–LITTORALE COMPLEX (ZYGNEMATALES,CHAROPHYCEAE)1

Members of the Closterium peracerosum–strigosum–littorale (C. psl.) complex are unicellular charophycean algae in which there are two modes of zygospore formation, heterothallic and homothallic. A homothallic strain of Closterium (designation, kodama20) was isolated from a Japanese rice paddy field. Based on alignment of the 1506 group‐I introns, which interrupt nuclear SSU rDNAs, homothallic kodama20 is most closely related to the heterothallic mating group II‐B, which is partially sexually isolated from group II‐A. Time‐lapse photography of the conjugation process in kodama20 revealed that most of the observed zygospores originated from one vegetative cell. The sexual conjugation process consisted of five stages: (1) cell division resulting in the formation of two sister gametangial cells from one vegetative cell, (2) formation of a sexual pair between the two sister gametangial cells (or between gametangial cells of another adjoined individual), (3) formation of conjugation papillae, (4) release of gametic protoplasts from both members of a pair, and (5) formation of the zygospore by protoplast fusion. For conjugation to progress, the cell density and light condition in the culture was critical. We suggested the presence of a conjugation promotion factor.     

THE FUSION OF SEXUAL NUCLEI

A classification scheme is proposed for the types of sexual nuclear fusion that occur in eukaryotes. The two main classes are envelope fusion and envelope vesiculation and each is further divided into subclasses. The formation of sexual nuclei (pronuclei) has been detailed in representatives from various phyla, but is best understood in animals, in which the development of male and female pronuclei differs in some respects. The only characterized cytoplasmic mediator of pronuclear movement are microtubules. Groups of eukaryotes can be classified according to the type of nuclear fusion they reveal. Envelope fusion occurs in animals whose eggs are fertilized at the pronuclear stage, and in all plants, fungi, protozoa and algae studied to date. Ultrastructural details of envelope fusion have shown variations that are classified in our scheme as direct and indirect, the latter being restricted to the plant kingdom. Envelope vesiculation only occurs in animals, in which it is the most common means of nuclear fusion. Four subclasses can be defined according to the timing of the vesiculation of the nuclear envelopes, and the extent of envelope surface projections prior to fusion. The amount of work reported on the controlling mechanisms of nuclear fusion has been limited, but some evidence of genetic control has been provided, particularly in fungi. Evidence is presented to indicate that the control of the fusion competence of nuclei is a negative one. This review of the information available on nuclear fusion points out the need for extensive future comparative studies if this important process is to be better understood.