title: Sodium chloride stress induced morphological and ultrastructural changes in Aspergillus repens.
abstract: Halotolerant fungus, A. repens, showed a considerable difference in its growth rate, morphology, ultrastructural and molecular composition under NaCl stress as compared to control i.e. non-stressed condition. Light microscopic observations revealed significant differences in their mycelial thickness, their branching and septa. Transmission electron microscopic observations of both the conditions depicted significant differences in the qualitative and quantitative changes in mitochondria. Frequent pinocytotic vesiculation (vacuoles) of plasma membrane was observed in fungus under stress but no such vesiculation in control. The multivesiculate structures observed under stress with their origin from the cell membranes and subsequent release into vacuoles have not been reported in fungi under normal physiological conditions. The observations on pinocytosis are discussed in relation to ion compartmentation and salt tolerance in A. repens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, M S University of Baroda, India.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kelavkar
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Ghhatpar
mesh_terms: D001230:Aspergillus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003470:Culture Media / Q000494:pharmacology; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010873:Pinocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D011188:Potassium / Q000032:analysis; D012462:Saline Solution, Hypertonic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012964:Sodium / Q000032:analysis; D014617:Vacuoles / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D012462:Saline Solution, Hypertonic; D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium