Auxiliary cell

The auxiliary cell is a spore-like structure that forms within the fungal family Gigasporaceae (order Gigasporales). Auxiliary cells have thin cell walls, {{lichengloss|echinulate}} (spiny), papillate, knobby or sometimes smooth surfaces, and are formed from hyphae after spore germination before the formation of mycorrhizae, and then on the extraradical hyphae in the soil. They may not be 'cells' in the biological sense of the word, as they are structures found with coenocytic hyphae belonging to members of the phylum (division) Glomeromycota. Mostly they are known from members of the Gigasporaceae. Currently this family contains Gigaspora, Scutellospora and Racocetra, but there are other generic names that have not been widely accepted (Dentiscutata, Cetraspora, Fuscutata and Quatunica) — all of these form auxiliary cells. Members of the genus Pacispora (another genus in the Diversisporales) are also said to produce a kind of auxiliary cell but this requires further confirmation.

References

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{{cite book |vauthors=Mueller GM, Bills GF, Mueller GM, Foster MS |title=Biodiversity of Fungi: Inventory and Monitoring Methods |publisher=Elsevier Academic Press |location=Amsterdam |year=2004 |page=333 |isbn=0-12-509551-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Du2bi4tgcVcC&dq=auxiliary+cell+gigasporaceae&pg=PA333}}

{{cite journal |vauthors=Walker C, Sanders FE |year=1986 |title=Taxonomic concepts in the Endogonaceae: III. The separation of Scutellospora gen. nov. from Gigaspora Gerd. & Trappe |journal=Mycotaxon |volume=27 |pages=169–82 |url=http://www.cybertruffle.org.uk/cyberliber/59575/0027/0169.htm}}

{{cite journal |vauthors= Oehl F, Goto BT, da Silva GA, Leonor M |year=2011 | title=Glomeromycota: Two new classes and a new order. |journal=Mycotaxon |volume=116 |pages=365–379|doi=10.5248/116.365 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/233708522|doi-access=free }}

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File:Spiny to papillate auxiliary cells from a species of Gigaspora.jpg

File:Auxiliary cells knobby.jpg

Category:Fungal morphology and anatomy