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Fine structure of the knobby spore type of Streptomyces torulosus

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Abstract

The type strain of Streptomyces torulosus Lyons and Pridham (1971) was studied by scanning- and transmission electron microscope. Spore chains were formed in spirals by aerial mycelium. The spores were connected by nozzles in which small channels could be observed. The knobby ornamentations of the spores arised on a thin fibrous sheath, enveloping the spore chains. These irregular blunt projections, called knobs, had varying diameters of 100 to 250 nm. The base of the knob, consisting of globose to flattened electron dense material, was sitting directly on the sheath. It was covered by several small vesicles of the same material. Each hollow vesicle beared a thin bowlshaped shell of electron transparent material. In general, the cupular bowls and their supporting vesicles became easily depressed on their base, but not detached from the surface of the spores. This type of knobby spore ornamentation was suggested to be designated as a verrucate spore type.

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Vobis, G., Zimmermann, C. Fine structure of the knobby spore type of Streptomyces torulosus . Arch. Microbiol. 138, 229–232 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00402126

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00402126

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