Alterations in the carbohydrate composition of the cytosol of fungal spores caused by temperature variations and the storage process

Differences in the carbohydrate composition were revealed among spores of f ungi belonging to Zygomycetes, Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, and Oomycota, par t of the novel kingdom Chromista. It was shown for the first time that Phyt ophthora infestans contains arabitol in addition to glucose and trehalose. Sucrose was detected in Pleurotus ostreatus basidiospores. It was establish ed that Blakeslea trispora stylospores contain inositol. The dependence of the spore carbohydrate composition on the temperature of the habitat of the corresponding species is discussed. It was shown that the cytosol of the c onidia is dominated by trehalose and inositol under hypothermic conditions and by mannitol and glucose under hyperthermic conditions. Neomycota and Eo mycota were shown to differ in their responses to stress (starvation), whic h correlated with the differences in the carbohydrate composition of the sp ore cytosols. Assuming that cytosol carbohydrates perform a protective func tion, we explain the higher viability of conidia compared to stylo- and spo rangiospores.