CULTURE ANALYSIS AND EXTERNAL INTERACTION MODELS OF MYCELIAL GROWTH

To investigate morphogenesis and in particular circularization mechani sms in young mycelia, we observe cultures of the zygomycete Mucor spin osus and develop discrete models of two-dimensional filamental branchi ng growth. The models are based on the hypothesis that the fungus secr etes a regulatory substance that diffuses into the surrounding medium and is detected by the growing hyphae. We also present a simple Markov ian growth model without such a feedback, but yielding to analytical c omputations.