Growth,cell division and branching patterns of Schizophyllum commune Fr. single basidiospore germlings

Summary Basidiospores of Schizophyllum commune Fr. were germinated and observed growing on microscope slides containing minimal medium. Micron measurements of the young germlings were made along with observations of nuclear division, cross wall formation and branching. Growth patterns and relationships of various parts of the developing germling were compared. Linear relations were observed between the length of the main axis and the number of cells in the main axis, and the number of primary branches in relation to the number of cells in the main axis while other comparisons were less conclusive. In addition to cell division occurring in terminal cells of hyphae, mature subterminal cells also delimited further with a somewhat regular cleavage division. Lack of synchrony in nuclear division between any of the cells of the germling hypha implicated autonomy of the individual components once delimitation had occurred.