Electron microscopic features and biochemical events were outlined in basidiospore germination of Schizophyllum commune. Normal ultrastructural changes included prominent vacuolization and more abundant endoplasmic reticulum. A lag phase in outgrowth included depletion of cellular reserves of trehalose, mannitol, and arabitol and subsequent increases in ribonucleic acid and protein. Depletion of polyols required exogenous carbon and nitrogen sources and was arrested by protein synthesis antagonists. Outgrowth subsequent to the lag period was accompanied by increased glycogen deposition and alkali-soluble glucan production.

Cell‐free extracts of mycelial mats of Pgrenochaeta terrestris grown in stationary culture on synthetic glucose or sucrose ‐ salts liquid media contained D‐mannitol‐1‐Phosphate:NAD oxidoreductase (EC 1.1.1.17) activity. Greatest activity occurred early in the growth period. The optimum pH for the reduction of NAD+ in the presence of Fru‐6‐P was 7.4–7.5 while the optimum pH for the oxidation of NADH in the presence of Mtl‐1‐P was 8.1–8.2. The enzyme was stabilized to some extent in Tris‐maleate buffer, pH 7.5, and by the addition of 10% (NH4)2SO4, to this buffer. A 10‐ to 16‐fold purification was attained by a combination of (NH4)2SO4 fractionation and gel filtration on Sephadex G‐100. The enzyme was relatively specific in its substrate and coenzyme requirements. The Km values were determined as: Fru‐6‐P ‐ 3 × 10−4 M, Mtl‐1‐P ‐ 1 × 10−4 M, and NAD+ and NADH ‐ 3 × 10−5 M.

Uptake and respiration of radioactive glucose, mannitol and arabitol were studied during basidiospore germination of the woodrotting mushroom Schlzophyllum ~ommune. Glucose uptake was rapid and immediate, depressed at 4 ~ C and unaffected by the protein synthesis antagonist cyeloheximide. In contrast, uptake of either mannitol or arabitol exhibited a lag phase while the induction of this process was sensitive to eyeloheximide. Prior incubation of basidiospores in unlabelled mannitel induced uptake processes for either labelled mannitel or arabitel. Respiratory rates for either arabitol or mannitol increased markedly upon germination in glucose-asparagine minimal culture medium.