VIABILITY OF THE SPORES FORMED AFTER UV IRRADIATION IN DICTYOSTELIUM DISCOIDEUM

Both abilities of germination of spores formed after UV irradiation and of growth of amoeboid cells emerged from the spores were studied on two kinds of Dictyostelium discoideum strains, NC-4 and ys-13.
An inhibition of germination was observed on the spores of ys -13 when formed after UV irradiation, while no inhibition was detected on the ability of germination of spores of NC-4. The amoeboid cells of ys -13 emerged from the spores showed a heavy delay of growth, although no delay of growth was detected even on the amoeboid cells of NC-4 emerged from the spores formed after UV irradiation. The strain of NC-4 must repair UV lesions fully before spore formation, while the spores of ys-13 must keep some UV lesions unrepaired and send them to the next generation of amoeboid cells. The characters of UV lesion inheritable through the spores to the next amoeboid cells in ys-13 were discussed.