αADα Hybrids of Cryptococcus neoformans: Evidence of Same-Sex Mating in Nature and Hybrid Fitness
Figure 3
(A) Hyphae produced by mating between the natural αADα hybrid 6–20 and JEC20 reference strain on V8 medium were fixed and stained with DAPI. Diploid nuclei (arrows) are brighter and larger than their haploid counterparts (arrowheads) when stained with DNA fluorescent dyes [73,97]. Dikaryotic mating hyphae containing two nuclei per compartment, which alternate position at each conjugate division, were observed during mating. Fused clamp cells are indicated by asterisks in the DIC image.
(B) Basidia at different stages of development.
(C) Four long spore chains produced on the surface of a basidium during mating.
Scale bar, 10 μm.