MACRO-CYST FORMATION IN THE CELLULAR SLIME-MOLD DICTYOSTELIUM-MUCOROIDES - INVOLVEMENT OF LIGHT AND VOLATILE MORPHOGENETIC SUBSTANCE(S)

In the dark, cultures of Dictyostelium mucoroides produce macrocysts while in the light fruiting bodies are formed. However, dark cultures will form fruiting bodies if grown over activated charcoal indicating that some gas or volatile substance is involved. Light cultures will form macrocysts when grown over CO2 absorbents (eg. KOH). If light cultures are grown over both KOH and activated charcoal only fruiting bodies are formed. A light‐mediated reaction involving CO2 assimilation may prevent the synthesis or utilization of the volatile substance needed for macrocyst formation. Copyright © 1979 Wiley‐Liss, Inc., A Wiley Company