title: Maturation of conidia on conidiophores of Aspergillus niger.
abstract: Conidia of Aspergillus niger are produced on conidiophores. Here, maturation of conidia on these asexual reproductive structures was studied. Pigmented conidia that had developed on conidiophores for 2, 5, and 8days were similarly resistant to heat and were metabolically active as shown by CO2release and conversion of the metabolic probe Tempone. A total number of 645-2421 genes showed a ⩾2-fold change in expression when 2-day-old conidia were compared to 5- and 8-day-old spores. Melanin was extracted more easily from the cell wall of 2-day-old conidia when compared to the older spores. In addition, mannitol content and germination rate of the 2-day-old conidia were higher. Dispersal efficiency by water was lower in the case of the 8-day-old conidia but no differences were observed in dispersal by wind and a hydrophobic moving object. These data and the fact that only a minor fraction of the conidia on a conidiophore were dispersed in the assays imply that a single colony of A. niger releases a heterogeneous population of conidia. This heterogeneity would provide a selective advantage in environments with rapidly changing conditions such as availability of water.
authors.affiliation: Microbiology, Department of Biology, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: w.r.teertstra@uu.nl.
authors.forename: Wieke R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Teertstra
authors.affiliation: Microbiology, Department of Biology, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: m.tegelaar@uu.nl.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tegelaar
authors.affiliation: CBS-KNAW Fungal Biodiversity Centre, Uppsalalaan 8, Utrecht 3584CT, The Netherlands. Electronic address: j.dijksterhuis@cbs.knaw.nl.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dijksterhuis
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biophysics, Wageningen University Research Center, Dreijenlaan 3, 6703 HA Wageningen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: elena.golovina@wur.nl.
authors.forename: Elena A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Golovina
authors.affiliation: Microbiology, Department of Biology, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: r.a.ohm@uu.nl.
authors.forename: Robin A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Ohm
authors.affiliation: Microbiology, Department of Biology, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: h.a.b.wosten@uu.nl.
authors.forename: Han A B
authors.initials: HAB
authors.lastname: Wösten
mesh_terms: D001234:Aspergillus niger / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000378:metabolism; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D018740:Genetic Heterogeneity; D006358:Hot Temperature; D012100:Reproduction, Asexual / Q000235:genetics; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D005656:Fungal Proteins
keywords: Asexual reproduction; Aspergillus; Conidia; Development; Dispersal; Fungus