Ballistospores in Melanotaenium endogenum

The germination of teliospores in Melanotaenium endogenum is illustrated. A metabasidium is formed having an apical cluster of finger-like lobes. Ballistospores may arise either directly from these or, more usually, on branched hyphae derived from them. Ballistospores shot on to 0.2% MA give rise to colourless mycelial colonies producing abundant ballistospores. The structure of the basidium is discussed in relation to that of other genera of Tilletiaceae.