— 13G — 



All these conclusions permit us to suppose that the pairing of 

 the nuclei in the ascogonia proceeds from dividing, and that the 

 large nuclei can be perhaps considered as nuclei grown and ready 

 for dividing. 



One can say certainly that not only the dividing, but at the 

 same time the fusion of the nuclei here takes place, that is two 

 parallel processes here proceed: the nuclei disposed in pairs can 

 therefore be the dividing and fusing of nuclei, and part, at least, 

 of the large nuclei is the result of a fusion, which has already 

 taken place. All this, certainly, was taken into consideration, but 

 notwithstanding the special attention, Avhich was given to this side 

 of the question, not once, in no conditions of our cultures and 

 fixings, could we notice this fusion in any of the investigated spe- 

 cies. Moreover the difference between the pairs of nuclei, lying 

 in the cells of a quite young perithecia and the pairs in the cells 

 of the perithecium, ready to produce ascogenous hyphae, cannot be 

 noticed. The limit between two connected nuclei Avas always sharply 

 outlined and the nuclei only touched each other. These circum- 

 stances permit us to assert that the fusion of the nuclei in the 

 cells of the ascogonia in Podospora and Sordaria, does not exist. 

 And one could scarcely count upon it here. If in such a highly 

 organized (from the morphological point of view), form as Pyro- 

 nema, in which there is a distinct and complete differentiation of 

 sexual cells on the ascogonium with trichogyne and antheridium, 

 undoubtly no fusion of the nuclei of the ascogonium takes place 

 (one can only observe their disposition in pairs [Claussen]), we have 

 less reason to expect this process in such forms as Podospora and 

 Sordaria, where there are even no antheridia. Claussen's conclusion, 

 Avhich denies in Pyronema the double fusion of the nuclei at the 

 formation of the asci, and so simply solves this mixed and con- 

 testable question, finds confirmation till now only in Monascus 

 (Schikorra). As it is seen from that which is described above, we 

 find the same in the species of Podospora and Sordaria. It is true 

 that on the basis of all that was just stated, с ne sees that the 

 <3evelopment of the fruit-bodies of the Podospora and Sordaria so- 

 mewhat differs from Avhat was described by Claussen, in regard to 

 the Pyronema: the pairing of the nuclei, one observes in the cells 

 of the ascogonium of the latter, is produced there by other 



