title: Microscopic observations of the early development of Pleurotus pulmonarius fruit bodies.
abstract: From observations made by light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, environmental-scanning and cryoscanning electron microscopy we conclude that the expansion of the young fruit body of Pleurotus pulmonarius involves considerable vacuolation of hyphae but no marked inflation of cell dimensions. There is evidence for an extensive extracellular matrix (ECM), the components of which must be under the control of the hyphae which the ECM surrounds. However the ECM in these fruit bodies is a dilute material. It is easily lost during specimen preparation and is evident only when certain techniques are used to preserve the fluid surface of the hyphae. Observations of the hyphal and fruit body structures with a range of conventional microscopic techniques are crucial to complement the information obtained through physiological and molecular studies for understanding the cellular changes that occur during mushroom development.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biotechnology, Research Center for Biological Sciences, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, Apartado postal 129, Tlaxcala, Tlax., CP 90000, México. sanher6@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: Gerardo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Díaz-Godínez
mesh_terms: D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000648:ultrastructure; D048690:Fruiting Bodies, Fungal / Q000254:growth & development / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D025301:Hyphae / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D020076:Pleurotus / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000648:ultrastructure