Studies with Clinical Isolates of Cunninghamella. I. Mating Behavior

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Abstract
SUMMARY Six clinical isolates of Cunninghamella, including two which had been described in the literature as C. elegans, were paired with tester strains of C. bertholletiae, C. elegans and with two isolates of C. polymorpha. These tester strains were in turn paired with each other in all combinations. Zygospores were produced in intraspecific crosses including pairings between cultures of C. polymorpha which had not been previously reported to produce zygospores. Five of the six clinical isolates produced zygospores in matings with C. polymorpha and zygospore formation also occurred when all six of the human isolates were paired with C. bertholletiae. None mated with C. elegans. One culture of C. bertholletiae produced numerous zygospores in crosses with C. polymorpha. As the result of our studies on mating behavior we conclude that: all six clinical isolates should be identified as C. bertholletiae not C. elegans, C. bertholletiae is a distinct species and not a synonym of C. elegans and C. polymorpha, as redescribed by Samson and represented by his designated neotype strain, is not a valid species.