Development of haustorium in taphrina maculans butler

Abstract

The subcuticular hyphae developed from the blastospores of Taphrina maculans Butler germinated over the leaf surface of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) send in aseptate hyphal pegs in the epidermal cells which branch dichotomously many times forming cystolith-like haustoria. They are frequently formed in the hypodermis and sometimes in the mesophyll also. Contact of the haustorial peg and its branches with the host cell protoplasm is always associated with the layering of a colloidal membraneous sheath of unknown chemical composition separating the entire organel from the protoplasm. The haustorium is unicellular though profusely branched enclosing 2 conjugate nuclei in its stem. Its development has been frequently observed to establish contacts with the host nucleus often deforming it to some extent. The nature of this relationship is not known precisely. © 1967, Japan Mendel Society, International Society of Cytology. All rights reserved.