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Abstract: When two colonies of Agaricus bisporus grow toward each other on an agar medium in a petri dish, growth usually stops as colonies approach each other. The "gap" between the colonies is usually several mm wide. Exceptions are colonies directly from spores, which usually fuse (STOLLER, 1970a). Apparently spores have a high concentration of some chemical which induces fusion. However, a distinction must be made between colonies overgrowing each other, and colonies actually fusing. When a rapid fluffy colony approaches an oppressed strandy colony, the fluffy one grows over the latter; in fact, the fluffy can easily be lifted off, and show this overgrowth The final determination about fusion would be microscopic observation of nuclear fusion. However, such microscopy is a study in itself; I must limit myself to study of chemicals involved. The idea of "fusion of colonies" is a conception well known in tissue culture, and fusions are known to occur. MOESSNER (1970) referred to this "gap" as a "distinct line of suppressed growth at the point of contact between colonies". He states that he observed microscopically an intermingling of hyphae from approaching colonies below the surface of the agar. For this reason he thought that he obtained some anastomoses of hypae of two colonies. In line with data presented in my report fusion of hyphae below the surface is entirely possible, because reducing conditions and less oxygen would prevail there I have found that antioxidant chemicals induce fusion, both on surface of colony as well as below. Antioxidants create or are part of reducing conditions. But his explanation for this gap as due to "competition for nutrients" or "production of toxic metabolic waste products" appears to be mistaken. I will show in this report that the oxidizing enzymes diffusing from the periphery of mycelial growth are so intense that fusion is not possible unless these diffusing enzymes are inhibited by an antioxidant at required Redox potential, or are dissipated m other ways.
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