ULTRASTRUCTURE OF ANTENNOSPORA-SALINA COMB-NOV

The ultrastructure of the ascospore and appendages of Halosphaeria sal ina was studied. Ascospore walls comprise a two-zoned mesosporium, the outer more electron-dense, and an electron-dense episporium enclosed by a layer of mucilaginous material. Ascospores have 3-5 subpolar appe ndages at each pole that appear as electron-dense striations and an am orphous core. Striations arise as outgrowths of the outer zone of the mesosporium, which is thickened at the point of attachment of the appe ndage to the spore wall. Halosphaeria salina is compared to H. appendi culata and Antennospora quadricornuta. It has more features in common with A. quadricornuta, particularly the ontogeny of the spore appendag e, and is therefore assigned to the genus Antennospora.