The genetics of Phycomyces blakesleeanus

Abstract

The genetic relationship between germspores and parental mycelia has been investigated in crosses involving multiply-marked heterokaryons and in simple difactor crosses. It is concluded that for each zygospore the number of different diploid nuclei undergoing meiosis is often more than one, but generally not more than two. The meiotic products divide to produce the nuclei in the usually uninucleate germspore primordia and then continue dividing to produce germspores. Unmated nuclei do not pass directly from parents to progeny. Each germsporangium contains differing numbers of viable germspores, with an average of about 7000; different genotypes are represented by varied numbers of germspores and often expected genotypes are missing. When the results of several germsporangia are added together or germspore stocks from many germsporangia are analysed, reciprocal genotypes appear in equal numbers and reliable recombination frequencies may be calculated. © 1975, Cambridge University Press. All rights reserved.