Study on development of Agaricus bisporus by fluorescent microscopy and scanning electron microscopy

Two strains of Agaricus bisporus have been investigated by fluorescent microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Somatic nuclei, stained with auramin O and examined by fluorescent microscopy, appear to be randomly distributed, divide asynchronously, and assume a nonclassical or "two-track" configuration during mitotic metaphase. A similar configuration has been observed for nuclei during meiosis, but early meiosis in A. bisporus appears to be classical, usually with nine pairs of chromosomes evident during prophase I. Scanning electron microscopy has been used to document developmental stages in the formation and germination of basidiospores. Two-spored basidia were predominant, but occasionally one- or three-spored forms were observed. Four-spored basidia were absent, and uninucleated basidiospores were exceedingly rare to absent.