Metallic-Oxide encrustations of the nonprosthecate stalks of naturally occurring populations ofPlanctomyces bekefii

Naturally occurring metallic-oxide encrustations of the multifibrillar stalks of morphotype Ia (Planctomyces bekefii) of theBlastocaulis-Planctomyces group of budding and nonprosthecately appendaged prokaryotes from two sources-a pond in Budapest, Hungary (containing topotypical material) and Gebharts Teich, a fishpond in Austria-have been examined by energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Some rosettes of morphotype Ib (Planctomyces crassus) also occurred in the Budapest pond; only morphotype Ia was found in Gebharts Teich. Manganese was the major metallic element in the morphotype Ia stalk encrustations from the Budapest pond; iron was not detected. However, morphotype Ib rosettes occurring in the same Budapest pond sampes contained both manganese and iron in their stalk encrustations. Both iron and manganese were present in the morphotype Ia stalk encrustation of rosettes from Gebharts Teich.