PRESENCE OF A MOTILE TUBULAR VACUOLE SYSTEM IN DIFFERENT PHYLA OF FUNGI

Actively growing cultures of organisms representative of the major mycelium-forming fungal and fungus-like protoctistan phyla were examined for the presence of a motile tubule and vacuole system similar to that found in Pisolithus tinctorius. The system was visualized by accumulation of 6-carboxyfluorescein and fluorescence microscopy. All members of the Eumycota examined had a similar but not always identical system. This included eight other members of the Basidiomycotina, four of the Ascomycotina, three of the Zygomycota and two of the Deuteromycotina, and indicates that the system is widespread. The Oomycota on the other hand, exhibited a different 6-carboxyfluorescein-accumulating system - a very fine tubular reticulum that was confluent with vacuoles which also accumulated fluorochrome. The tubular reticulum in members of the Oomycota was very fragile and could only be shown in growing hyphae with streaming cytoplasm and no apparent structural damage.