LIFE CYCLE OF A GILLED MUSHROOM 



13 



This separation of the phases of sexual reproduction with a di- 

 karyotic mycehum interpolated between the fusion of cells and the 

 fusion of nuclei is characteristic of the Basidiomycetes. The Basidio- 



FiG. 4. Conjugate nuclear division and basidiospore formation in mushrooms. 

 Diagrammatic. Explanation in text. Drawing by Hazel Jean Henrici. 



mycetes are isogamous and in many cases heterothallic in origin. In 

 homothallic species paired nuclei appear to arise spontaneously in 

 the mycelium from a single basidiospore and conjugate nuclear divi- 

 sion may be accompanied with or without the formation of clamp 



