![Sample our Bioscience journals, sign in here to start your access, Latest two full volumes FREE to you for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5925/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Bioscience.jpg"})
ABSTRACT
This is the first report of natural autofluorescence in fungal propagules. It was observed in the cytoplasm of conidia, pycnidiospores, ascospores, and mycelia of twelve species incubated on agar plates, soil, or in suspension and in antagonistic relationships with organisms. Autofluorescence was compared with germination, both qualitatively and quantitatively, to establish the relationship between fluorescence and viability. Qualitative observations showed that fluorescing fungal propagules did not germinate. Quantitative assays also gave a high negative correlation (r = -0.909) between fluorescence and germination. Deviation from a perfect negative correlation between fluorescence and germination was due to dormancy of viable nonfluorescent spores, or nonfluorescence of dead spores devoid of cytoplasm. With this inverse relationship, fluorescence microscopy may be used to determine fungal viability.