Kaszab Zoltán (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 64. (Budapest 1972)
Babos, M.: Investigations on the spore germination of Coprinus radians Desm.
Excepting the Coprinus atramentarius strains, the examined species are able to tolerate even the longest dry period possibly occurring in natural conditions, but their drought tolerance can be regarded as only medium. The majority of the lignicolous saprophytic and parasitic species drawn into the experiment revived even after a desiccation for 8 months. With regard to tolerating desiccation, Coprinus radians is of a similar character. Its fairly good drought tolerance is demonstrated also by the rather quick appearance of the fruitbodies in optimum conditions after an exposure to the dry period (3 days after 6 months and 51 days after 16 months, respectively). Summary It could be established in the course of experiments made with Coprinus radians that its spores began germinating after 2 hours on 3% malt extract-f 2% agaragar substrate at 24 °C, with 90-100 p. long, ramifying hyphae developing from the germinal vesicle in 24 hours. The rate of germination was unaffected by the age of the spore : fresh spores germinated just as rapidly as 6 weeks old ones. The effect of the rest period appeared to some extent in the growth velocity of the hyphae : that of 6 weeks old spores was even quicker than that of the fresh ones. With regard to the external conditions influencing germination, the stimulating rate of the culture media, as well as the role of the pH value of the substrate and temperature in releasing germination, were investigated. The most favourable medium was the malt-agar substrate, but a watery solution of 1.5% malt extract proved to be nearly as good: if pH wat set at 7.0-7.7 by n/10 NaOH. germination commenced after 3.5 hours. No germination could be observed in distilled water even after 120 hours, but if 1.5% malt extract was added to the spore material soaked in distilled water after 72 hours, the germinal vesicles began development after 3.5 hours. According to observations made with solutions of various pH values, germination showed the best rate in the slightly alkaline and neutral range (7.7 and 7.0, respectively); the rate was rather good even at pH 6.0 and 5.1, but at pH 3.9 germination commenced only slowly and weakly, and after 24 hours. The optimum germination temperature was found to be 24 °C, but the spores began germinating rather quickly also at lower temperatures ; in refrigerators, the first germinal vesicles appeared after 72 hours even at 3-4 °C. Investigations covered also the drought resistance of the ozonium of Coprinus radians. Wood bits interwoven with mycelia were dry-stored for 6 and 16 months, when placed in humid conditions the ozonium revived rapidly and the fruitbodies appeared in 3 and 51 days, respectively. References: Bonus, G. (1956): On the drought-resistance of fungi. Ann. Hist.-nat. Mus. Nat. Hung. s. n. 7: 263-270. — BOHUS G., KORONCZY I. & UZONYI S. (1961): A termosztett csiperke Psalliota bispora (Lange) Tresehow. Magyarország Kultur flórája I (LI), Budapest pp. 162. — CAYLEY, D. M. (1936): Spores and spore germination in wild and cultivated mushrooms (Psalliotasp.). Trans. Érd. Mgc. Soc. 20: 225-241. — GOTTLIEB, D. (1950): The physiology of spore germination in fungi. Bot. Her. 16: 229-257. — KÜHNER, it. & ROMAGNESI, H. (1953): Flore analytique des champignons supérieurs. Paris, pp. 556. — LANGE, M. (1952): Species concept in the genus Coprinus. Dansk. Bot. Arkiv, 14, 6: 1 -164. - MOSER, M. (1967): Die Röhrlinge und Blätterpilze (Agaricales) in GAMS, H. : Kleine Kryptogamenflora IIb/2. 3. Aufl., Stuttgart, pp. 443. — PILÂT, A.
