Nuclear condition of the basidia, basidiospores, and mycelium of Marasmius perniciosus

Basidia, basidiospores, and mycelium were examined to determine the nuclear condition during different stages of growth of Marasmius perniciosus. Young basidia were binucleate and four mononucleate basidiospores developed after meiosis. The primary hypha from a germinating basidiospore was septate with uninucleate cells but persisted only for a short time and gave rise to mycelium resembling 'textura intricata.' Apparent fusion of hyphal branches resulted in dikaryotization, and subsequent formation of normal, binucleate hyphae with clamp connections at most septa suggests that the fungus is homothallic.