UNIQUE APPENDAGES ASSOCIATED WITH SPORES OF BACILLUS-CEREUS ISOLATES

Electron microscopic observations revealed the presence of a new type of large appendage on the spores of two Bacillus cereus strains isolat ed from phylloplanes. The appendages were thin and sword-like in shape , having the sizes of 1.5 to 2.8 mu m in length and 0.03 to 0.6 mu m i n width. Then were no core or sheath structures in these appendages. T he number of appendages on a spore ranged from three to more than twen ty, radiating from the swelling on one end of the exosporium. These ap pendages gave a unique octopus- or jellyfish-like feature to the spore s.