Morphology and growth cycle of Mycoplasma meleagridis viewed by scanning-electron microscopy

The three-dimensional structure of Mycoplasma meleagridis strain RY-39A was studied by scanning-electron microscopy. The morphologic forms observed between 12 hours and 7 days suggest that the organism undergoes a sequential metamorphosis in its development. Single rounded forms in lag phase give rise to larger cells and filaments in the log phase, which fragment into coccus forms in the late stationary phase.