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Abstract
SUMMARY: Ultrastructural changes during the germination of spores of the actinomycetes Microbispora rosea, Microellobosporia flavea, Micromonospora melanosporea, Micropolyspora faeni and Streptomyces ostreogriaeus were studied. The thickness of mature spore walls and the number of layers distinguishable in them varied between species. In all cases, swelling of spores occurred during germination and existing wall layers either stretched or ruptured.
In Microellobosporia flavea, the germ-tube wall arose from a layer newly synthesized during germination. Germ-tube walls in Microbispora rosea and Micromonospora melanosporea arose from inner layers of the wall which were distinguishable in dormant spores. In Micropolyspora faeni and Streptomyces ostreogriseus the germ-tube wall was formed from the inner layer of the spore wall which separated from the outer layer during germination. These patterns resembled those previously observed in fungal spores. There was no correlation between the behaviour of wall layers during germination and the wall composition of the genera studied.
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