The use of cryo-techniques for the preparation of biological specimens in electron microscopy has led to superior preservation of ultrastructural detail. Although these techniques have obvious advantages, a critical limitation is that only 10-40 μm thick cells and tissue layers can be frozen without the formation of distorting ice crystals. However, thicker samples (600 μm) may be frozen well by rapid freezing under high-pressure (2,100 bar). To date, most work using cryo-techniques on fungi have been confined to examining small, thin-walled structures. High-pressure freezing and freeze substitution are used here to analysis pre-germination stages of specialized, sexual spores (teliospores) of the plant pathogenic fungus Gymnosporangium clavipes C & P.Dormant teliospores were incubated in drops of water at room temperature (25°C) to break dormancy and stimulate germination. Spores were collected at approximately 30 min intervals after hydration so that early cytological changes associated with spore germination could be monitored. Prior to high-pressure freezing, the samples were incubated for 5-10 min in a 20% dextran solution for added cryoprotection during freezing. Forty to 50 spores were placed in specimen cups and holders and immediately frozen at high pressure using the Balzers HPM 010 apparatus.
Social Transfer of Pathogenic Fungus Promotes Active Immunisation in Ant Colonies
