Cell division age dependency of meiosis in an apomictic variant of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
The cell division age dependency of sporulation was investigated in a diploid strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (19el) which undergoes a single equational nuclear division during sporulation with consequent formation of asci containing two uninucleate diploid spores (apomictic dyads). Under modified nutritional conditions which partially restore meiosis and hence normal tetrad formation, newly formed (age 0) daughter cells were observed to be capable of formation of apomictic dyads but not of meiotic tetrads. Even under conditions in which only apomictic dyads developed, approximately 20% of the asci resulted from differentiation of newborn 'inexperienced' cells. Thus, the data indicated production of at least one bud to be a prerequisite for meiosis but not for apomixis; however, occurrence of at least one complete mitotic cell division cycle was evidently insufficient for the morphogenetic switch from diploid to haploid spore formation, since older cells bearing several bud scars often underwent apomictic dyad development, and some produced no spores.
Bilinski
C A
CA
Production Research Department, Labatt Brewing Company Limited, London, Ontario, Canada.
Marmiroli
N
N
Miller
J J
JJ
D002455:Cell Division; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D013172:Spores, Fungal