REPRODUCTION 



95 



F: BRANCHING AND BUDDING 



(7, 9, 10, 17, 22, 26) 



True branching, as a method of reproduction in bacteria, is confined to 

 the streptoniyces. These organisms, which resemble hmgi in this as in so 

 many other respects, have elongated cells which take part in the formation of 

 permanent branches. Branching in other bacteria is only occasional, and the 



Fig. 40 

 BRANCHING IN B.\CTERI.\ 



A. Branching of the transient, budding type in C. diphtheria'. Tannic-acid-violet x 3000. 



B. Somewhat more advanced type of transient branching in a pathogenic actinomyces. 

 Here a true branch mav form, but rapidly becomes detached from the main filament. Tannic- 

 acid-violet X 3000. 



C. Permanent branching in a streptomyces. Unstained, in situ l(Kl(». 



individual cell is seldom or never permanently branched. Branching never 

 occurs in eubacteria and very rarely in mycobacteria. Pathogenic, anaerobic 

 actinomyces, which have little else in common, cytologically, with strep- 

 tomyces, branch quite frequently, although a good deal less frequently than 

 they have been credited with doing. But the branch does not for long remain 

 attached to the main stem, except in the secondary mycelium. 



