Studies on Calvatia Gigantea. I. Germination of the Basidiospores

SUMMARY

The basidiospores of Calvatia gigantea have been germinated in (a) 6 different broth media, and, (b) malt extract agar inoculated with Rhodotorula mucilaginosa var. sanguinea.

The per cent germination is less than 0.001, the yeast can be replaced by a bacterium, spores from only certain sporophores germinate, incubation of at least 4 weeks is required to observe visible colonies, and in malt extract agar (the most suitable for germination) seeding the spores into the medium appears to increase the germination rates.