Ultrastructure of Conidia of the Plant Pathogenic Fungus Entomosporium Mespili

Extract

Entomosporium mespili has emerged as a significant pathogen of red tip (Photinia × fraseri), a popular and widely grown ornamental in the southeastern United States. This fungal pathogen produces its distinctive multi-celled, insect-like asexual spores or conidia (Fig. 1) in structures known as acervuli (Fig. 2) that rupture the surfaces of infected leaves. This study examines the fine structure of these conidia using a combination of scanning and transmission electron microscopy. In the case of transmission electron microscopy, conidia were prepared for study using either plunge freezing or high pressure freezing followed by freeze substitution.

Each mature conidium of E. mespili consists of four to six cells (Fig. 1). These include one apical cell and one basal cell and two to four small lateral cells attached to the basal cell. The apical and lateral cells each possess a long, slender appendage. Excluding these appendages, the length of a mature conidium is usually 20-24μm while the diameters of the apical and basal cells are 8-11μm and 6-9μm respectively.