Linear extrachromosomal DNA in the morel Morchella conica

Abstract
Altogether 18 different strains of the genus Morchella were assayed for the presence of extrachromosomal genetic elements. It was shown that 8 out of 13 strains of the Morchella conica group contain plasmids of comparable size (6 kb and 8 kb respectively). The 5 representatives of Morchella esculenta were not found to contain extrachromosomal DNA. The plasmid of one strain (nr. 3) was further analysed. By restriction analyses and electron microscopy it was confirmed that the plasmid is linear having a molecular weight of 6 kb. It was further shown that it carries at both ends inverted repeats of 0.75 kb.