Abstract
THE surface of many fungal spores, including those of some members of the ascomycetes, basidiomycetes and deuteromycetes, is covered by a thin layer of regularly arranged ‘rodlets’1–3. The limited data available on their chemical nature suggest that these rodlets are composed largely of protein with some polysaccharide4–5 Functions suggested for the rodlet layer have included water repellency4 and protection against dehydration2 but little experimental evidence has been available. We report here such evidence, based on a study of a mutant of Neurospora crassa that differs from the wild type in that its asexual spores (conidia) are both easily wetted and do not disperse readily in air currents. The conidia of the mutant, unlike those of the wild type, lack rodlets on their surface.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Hawker, L. E. & Madelin, M. F. in The Fungal Spore : Form and Function (eds Weber, D. J. & Hess, W. M.) 1–70 (Wiley, New York. 1976).
Sassen, M. M. A., Remsen, C. C. & Hess, W. M. Protoplasma 64, 75–88 (1967).
Hess, W. M., Sassen, M. M. A. & Remsen, C. C. Mycologia 60, 290–303 (1968).
Fisher, D. J. & Richmond, D. V. J. gen. Microbiol, 64, 205–214 (1970).
Hashimoto, T., Wu-Yuan, C. D. & Blumenthal, H. J. J. Bact. 127, 1543–1549 (1976).
Selitrennikoff, C. P. Neurospora Newsl. 23, 23 (1976).
Selitrennikoff, C. P., Nelson, R. F. & Siegel, R. W. Genetics 78, 679–690 (1974).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
BEEVER, R., DEMPSEY, G. Function of rodlets on the surface of fungal spores. Nature 272, 608–610 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1038/272608a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/272608a0
This article is cited by
-
The N-terminal tail of the hydrophobin SC16 is not required for rodlet formation
Scientific Reports (2022)
-
Atomic Force Microscopy: A Promising Tool for Deciphering the Pathogenic Mechanisms of Fungi in Cystic Fibrosis
Mycopathologia (2018)
-
Identification and characterization of the glucose dual-affinity transport system in Neurospora crassa: pleiotropic roles in nutrient transport, signaling, and carbon catabolite repression
Biotechnology for Biofuels (2017)
-
The propensity of the bacterial rodlin protein RdlB to form amyloid fibrils determines its function in Streptomyces coelicolor
Scientific Reports (2017)
-
The habitat of Coccidioides spp. and the role of animals as reservoirs and disseminators in nature
BMC Infectious Diseases (2016)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.