The ultrastructure of sexual reproduction in Pythium acanthicum

Abstract
The young oogonium and young antheridium in Pythium acanthicum Drechsler are densely and randomly packed with numerous mitochondria, dictyosomes, nuclei, interlocking vacuoles of several types, some of which contain a dense storage body, a variety of vesicles, endoplasmic reticulum, and cytoplasmic ribosomes. Wall vesicles, evenly distributed next to the plasma-lemma in rapidly growing oogonia, become localized in groups at points where they appear to initiate the hyphal tip-like development of the oogonial spines. They are also found on both sides of the antheridium−oogonium contact zone. Spine development starts shortly after antheridium−oogonial contact is made and ceases with entry of antheridial material into the oogonium. Excess nuclei, mitochondria, and various organelles are abandoned in the periplasmic space, where they normally quickly disintegrate when the oospore is formed. The periplasmic space is invaded frequently by vegetative hyphae originating outside of the oogonium.

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