ATTACHMENT STUDIES OF AQUATIC HYPHOMYCETES

The strength of attachment of conidia of eight species of freshwater Hyphomycetes (Anguillospora crassa, Articulospora tetracladia, Dimorphospora foliicola, Lemonniera aquatica, Mycentrospora filiformis, Tetracladium marchalianum, Tumularia aquatica and Varicosporium elodeae) was examined in a Fowler Radial Flow Chamber up to 24 hours after settlement. It was shown that conidium morphology, particularly the number of contact points made by the conidium to the substratum, had an effect on initial attachment and therefore that tetraradiate conidia were initially the most strongly attached. It was also shown that the subsequent formation of appressoria significantly increased the strength of attachment at the higher shear stresses examined.