The evolution of fungal morphogenesis, a personal account

Abstract

This article describes the evolution of the field of fungal morphogenesis, its beginning at the end of the 19th century and its exponential growth during the second half of the 20th century, continuing until the present day. The main theme correlates biological progress with the advent of new technologies. Accordingly the article describes the discovery of apical growth, the fibrillar nature of the fungal wall, the chemistry of the cell wall, the search for biochemical pathways in morphogenesis, the discovery of the Spitzenkörper, the apical gradient of wall synthesis, key highlights in ultrastructural research, the development of mathematical models particularly the vesicle supply center (VSC) model, the revolution brought about by molecular biology and unique discoveries such as the hydrophobins and γ-tubulin and some the latest triumphs of the marriage between molecular genetics and confocal microscopy. Credit is given to the investigators responsible for all the advances.

• evolution
• history
• hyphal fungi
• morphogenesis
• polarized growth