Dikaryotic fruiting in Schizophyllum commune Fr.: Morphology of the developing basidiocarp

Summary Sporulating dikaryotic fruit-bodies of Schizophyllum commune (str. 699 A41B41 + str. 845 A51B51) were produced on glucose-asparagine medium and harvested at various stages of development for histological studies. Distinct patterns of cell organization were observed from basidiocarp initials to mature fructifications. Different cell types included basal bulbous cells, cylinders of parallel hyphae in the stipe, loosely knit tramal cells in the lamellae, specialized sub-hymenial cells and basidia. Large encrustations were observed protruding from the hymenium near the lamellar apex. Lateral hairs and crystalline matter were also seen in these genetically defined dikaryotic fruit-bodies which arose on simple medium in the laboratory.