Spore development of Entrophospora kentinensis in an aeroponic system

Abstract

Entrophospora kentinensis was propagated with bahia grass and sweet potato in an aeroponic system. Spores were produced 6 weeks later after host plants were transferred to an aeroponic chamber. Sporiferous saccules were formed either by external mycelium or within roots. Sporogenesis started inside the stalk of a sporiferous saccule by the formation of a septum in the lower channel of the stalk. The cytoplasm within the saccule seemed the major source for the spore formation. When the cytoplasm flowed downward, the central part of the stalk swelled and tiny vacuoles were formed at the periphery of the saccule. As the primordial spore was differentiated inside the stalk, another septum was formed right below the saccule. After spores mature, the terminal vesicles of saccules and the lower hyphal stalks degenerate and leave two scars. Differences in spore ontogeny between Acaulospora and Entrophospora are discussed.

Key Words:

• Acaulospora
• aeroponic culture
• Entrophospora
• sporogenesis