Electrophoretic properties of spores of Aspergillus niger.

This report concerns an investigation of an important aspect of fungal growth, the nature of the spore surface. The spore is the propagative body of the fungus so a knowledge of its germination process is of primary importance. The surface of the spore necessarily plays an integral part in this process since it is the first point of contact between the spore and such factors as water, food, and poison. It is obvious then that the nature of the spore surface should be a subject of intense study if better control measures are to be realized. The organism chosen for this study was Aspergillus niger since it grows on a variety of substrates and much is known of its physiology. The technique of microelectrophoresis was used to determine the natuire of the spore surface. Electrophoresis has been used in studies of bacterial spores (Moyer, 1936; Dyar, 1948; Barry and James, 1952; to name a few), but its application to the study of fungus spores has been limited (Douglas, Collins, and Parkinson, 1959).