The Ultrastructure of the Formation of Chains of Conidia in Memnoniella Echinata

SUMMARY

The conidial ontogeny of Memnoniella is very similar to that described for other phialidic Deuteromycotina. The persistence of the chain of conidia appears to be mostly due to the strength of the septum between spores and not to the pellicle or slime sheath which may cover the chain and the phialide. The main difference between a phialide producing chains of conidia as in Memnoniella, and one producing slimy heads, as in Stachybotrys, is in the length of time between the formation of the septum in the phialide neck and its splitting when the conidia separate.