[Variability of Cryptococcus species in the capacity to form pseudomycelia]

Treatment of the type strains of Cryptococcus flavus, Cr. gastricus, Cr. magnus and Cr. hungaricus with nitrosoguanidine yielded mutants which were capable of producing the pseudomycelium. The mutants almost did not differ from the parent cultures in other diagnostic characteristics. Certain species of Candida and Cryptococcus were found to be very similar in taxonomic properties. Apparently, pseudomycelial saprophytic cryptococci might exist in nature. The conclusion has been drawn that the ability for pseudomycelium formation (its absence) should not be used as a generic criterion for Cryptococcus spp.