HORMONAL CONTROL OF SEXUAL REPRODUCTION IN MUCOR MUCEDO

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Abstract
Summary: An investigation has been made of some aspects of the formation and action of a hormone extracted from mated cultures of Mucor mucedo which induces the formation of zygophores in unmated cultures. For a mated culture on nutrient agar there is a minimum age below which no hormone is produced. After this time hormone is produced so that the level in the culture remains constant. The production of hormone is controlled by the oxygen tension and it has been obtained from liquid cultures only when these are aerated by bubbling oxygen through the medium.A possible mechanism for the interaction between the two strains leading to the production of hormone is discussed.The hormone also stimulates carotenogenesis in unmated cultures which are responding to it.