This Article Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 08-197v1 101/6/823    most recent Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Slepecky, R. Articles by Starmer, W. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Slepecky, R. Articles by Starmer, W. Agricola Articles by Slepecky, R. Articles by Starmer, W.

Phenotypic plasticity in fungi: A review with observations on Aureobasidium pullulans.

     ¹ Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York
² Biology Department, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, 13244, United States of America

Phenotypic plasticity in fungi is reviewed in the context of observations on phenotypic changes in the colony morphology of the fungus Aureobasidium pullulans. The variation in colony form is shown to depend on: (i) the types of single carbon substrates (sugars and sugar alcohols) used in the growth medium, (ii) colony age, (iii) incubation temperature, (iv) light cycle and (v) substrate type. Expanding colonies grow in a developmental sequence that show synchronize growth phase shifts as well as unusual transitions from homogeneous to sectored, yeast to mycelial and giant to micro-colonial growth forms. Epigenetic influences on phenotypic switches are suggested to be potential causes of form changes. The desirable properties of a model organism for studying phenotypic plasticity are discussed and past work on the yeast-mycelial transition of fungi is reviewed.

Key words: Model Organism, Epigenetics, Yeast-mycelial transition