Wall Structure and spore Germination in Fusarium culmorum

The conidial and germ-tube walls of Fusarium culmorum (W. G.Smith) Sacc. have been examined by various chemical and electron-microscopetechniques. On the basis of these results and hypothesis isproposed for the organization of these walls. Microchemicaltests indicate the presence of chitin in the walls and suggestthat the mucilaginous layer around the conidium is mainly composedof xylan. Chemical analyses of isolated wall material confirmthe presence of chitin constituents in the wall, and a rylanlayer around the conidium. Furthermore, the wall contains apolypeptide moiety which has a different amino acid compositionfrom the rest of the protein of the cell. Electron microscopestudies of replicas and sections of conidia, germ tubes, andhyphae reveal a layered structure for the wall. The centrallayer is non-microfibrillar and is overlaid on both sides witha layer of randomly orientated microfibrils. The mucilaginouslayer of the conidium obscures the microfibrillar structurebeneath it unless the mucilage is removed by hydrolysis. Theproblem of hyphal growth is discussed on the basis of the structureof germ-tube tips and mature hyphae observed.