Spore formation in the Actinoplanaceae (Actinomycetales)

• DOI: 10.1007/bf00455921
• Publication Date: 2004-11-13T02:25:57Z
• Authors: G. P. Sharples; S. T. Williams; R. M. Bradshaw
• Keywords: Sporogenesis; Fragmentation

Spore development in four genera, Actinoplanes, Dactylosporangium, Planomonospora, and Streptosporangium, was studied by transmission and scanning electron microscopy. Actinoplanes and Streptosporangium formed spores by fragmentation of a hypha within its expanded outer sheath, as do many other actinomycetes. Dactylosporangium and Planomonospora formed spores endogenously by development of wall material within the parent hypha. In this respect, they resembled the genera Actinobifida and Thermoactinomyces. The term “sporangium” has therefore been used to describe structures which are not homologous. It was suggested that the term should be confined to structures in which endogenous spore formation occurs.