STUDIES ON THE PLASMODESM-LIKE LINKAGE BETWEEN SPORES OFBACILLUS ANTHRACIS

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Abstract
Electron microscope studies indicated that spores of fully-autolyzed cultures of Bacillus anthracis, B. cereus, and B. mycoides were connected by a plasmodesm-like linkage. The linkage between spores of B. anthracis could not be broken mechanically by sonic vibration or blending with glass beads unless the spore coat also was ruptured. Immediately after germination of the spores, the connection no longer existed. However, pairs of free spore coats which had apparently been shed by the germinating spores were observed to be linked. Evidence indicates that the linkage is an extension of the spore coat. The term plasmodesmoid, meaning resembling a plasmodesm, is suggested for this linkage.