Abstract
The sporangiospores of M. bacilliformis (NRRL 2346) were compared to those of M. fragilis (ATCC 10777), M. hiemalis (ATCC 1205), M. mucedo (ATCC 7941), M. racemosus (ATCC 1216a) and M. rouxii (NRRL 1894) with respect to number of nuclei, weight, amount of DNA, RNA and protein and rate of germination. They were found to be mostly uninucleate like those of the other 5 organisms. They have a much smaller weight and contain significantly less DNA, RNA and protein. The relative proportions of these macromolecules are characteristically different for M. bacilliformis. The ratio of RNA to DNA is about 2, whereas for the other Mucor species it varies from 8-13. Apparently the sporangiospores of M. bacilliformis are deficient in RNA.