ISOLATION AND STRUCTURAL CHARACTERIZATION OF SOIL‐Borne AUXILIARY CELLS OF GIGASPORA MARGARITA BECKER & HALL, A VESICULAR–ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGUS

Abstract

Soil‐borne auxiliary cells of Gigaspora margarita Becker & Hall have been investigated with light and electron microscopy. The cell wall is composed of four prominent layers and autofluoresces intense yellow under blue light. Histochemically, it contains polysaccharides and lipids. The cytoplasm is composed of amorphous material, nuclei and a variety of osmiophilic granules. In old and moribund auxiliary cells and subtending hyphae, gram‐negative bacterium‐like structures (BLS), sometimes dividing, were colonizing the senescent cytoplasm. These BLS were surrounded by peripheral membranes and their cytoplasm was clearly differentiated into electron‐dense and transparent areas. Copyright © 1986, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved