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Abstract: The spores of Agaricus bisporus are generally known to have a very low germination rate when provided with conditions under which vegetative development would normally proceed Their activation is usually brought about by adding culture filtrate of the fungus to the germination medium, by passing air from mushroom cultures over them, or by other, basically similar treatments (lit cit in LOSEL, 1964) In all cases the triggering effect is largely due to the production, by the mushroom mycelium, of isovaleric acid (RAST and STAUBLE, 1970) This substance is also synthesized by the A bisporus spores and thus represents a self-stimulator (ibid ) Carbon dioxide, on the other hand, is a self-inhibitor of mushroom spores (LOSEL, 1964) According to SUSSMAN and HALVORSON'S terminology (1966) their dormancy must, therefore, be called 'constitutive'. In order to elucidate the biochemistry of the germination process in A. bisporus we have aimed at three objectives (1) the metabolic characterization of the dormant stage and the identification of the mechanisms responsible for its establishment, (2) an understanding of the role of CO2 in inhibiting germination, and (3) the determination of the mode of action of isovaleric acid in inducing it.
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