Project

On the two mating types of P. anserina

The filamentous fungus Podospora anserina grows in nature on herbivore dung and has only short period in which can form mycelium and obligatory sexual offspring.

Description:

P. anserina has two mating types, + and -, both necessary for the successful production of fruiting bodies and spores. Most produced spores contain two nuclei of opposite mating type, ensuring that a single spore is capable of successful mycelium and ascospore formation. However, occasionally mononucleate spores are formed that contain only one of the mating type loci. These spores can be used to study fitness differences between the two mating types.

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Used skills:

microbiological and molecular biology skills, some statistical analysis to interpret the results.

Requirements:

Molecular and Evolutionary Ecology (GEN20304) and Genetic Analysis Tools and Concepts (GEN30306) are good preparations.

Reference:

Marcou, D. (1961) Notion de longévité et nature cytoplasmique du déterminant de la sénescence chez quelques champignons. Ann. Sci. Natur. Bot., Sér. 12: 653-764.