SCANNING ELECTRON-MICROSCOPY OF THE SEPTAL PORE CAP OF THE BASIDIOMYCETE SCHIZOPHYLLUM-COMMUNE

As part of a comparative study of the structure and function of pore s tructures in heterobasidiomycetous yeasts, dikaryotic hyphae of Schizo phyllum commune were subjected to chemical fixation, freeze fracturing , maceration, and freeze substitution, and were subsequently prepared for scanning electron microscopy. The interior of the hyphal cell was visualized and revealed the perforated septal pore cap or parenthesome , mitochondria, vacuoles, and tubular endoplasmic reticulum. The septa l pore cap showed connections with tubular endoplasmic reticulum. This tubular endoplasmic reticulum covered the dolipore septal surface. Th e results presented here complement and extend the ultrastructural ima ge of the septal pore cap obtained from transmission electron microgra phs.