The structure of the phialides (mucronate hyphopodia) of the Meliolaceae

Abstract

Light and electron micrographs of the mucronate hyphopodia of several species of the Meliolaceae showed that these structures consist of a single cell that produces endogenous spores by an extension of the basal cytoplasm. These spores are separated from the basal cytoplasm by a septum and are extruded through an apical pore. Although the function of the spore is unknown, the term phialide seems more appropriate for these structures than the term mucronate hyphopodium. Key words: Meliolaceae, mucronate hyphopodia, phialide.