Mitochondrial inheritance patterns in Didymium iridis are not influenced by stage of mating competency.
To test whether the timing of transition to mating competency affected mitochondrial transmission patterns in D. iridis. Reciprocal crosses were made by combining mating compatible strains that differed in their competency to mate. The results were compared to crosses where both mating strains were competent at the time of combining and crosses where somatic fusion of plasmodia was allowed. The results show that the mating competency of the parental strains at the time of confronting a compatible mate does not affect mitochondrial transmission patterns, mating efficiency or the likelihood of biparental inheritance. However the timing of plasmodial formation is delayed when precompetent and competent strains are mated compared to when both strains are competent at the time of mixing. We also observed that somatic fusion of plasmodia did not appreciably increase the incidence of biparental inheritance compared to crosses where individual plasmodia were isolated. These results provide additional evidence of the variable nature of mitochondrial inheritance in D. iridis within crosses and between mating trials.
Scheer
Marc A
MA
Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33328, USA.
Silliker
Margaret E
ME
D000818:Animals; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000235:genetics; D050259:Genes, Mitochondrial; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000502:physiology; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D016838:Physarida / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development
D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D016054:DNA, Protozoan