Abstract:
This study was done for the purpose of examining and documenting the development of the fungus Pilobolus, specifically its asexual reproductive structures. These structures, the sporangia, were comparatively photographed at several stages in their growth under both light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Although this part of its life cycle is generally known, no one has ever done a comparative developmental study or photographed in detail these structures. Therefore, after completion, the information gathered will be presented at the fall meeting of the Indiana Academy and submitted for publication. The information gathered will ultimately be used in conjunction with DNA analysis and other such data collected by others for the purpose of writing a new monograph for the entire family. A monograph gives detailed accounts of similarities and differences between similar species so that uniform classifications can be achieved. The existing monograph for these organisms is strictly morphological.
