Life Sciences Commons^™

A Cloning Strategy For Expression Of Fungal Hemicellulases In Plant Systems, Amer Alrudayan

Masters Theses

Lignocellulosic biomass is notoriously difficult to deconstruct into lignin, hemicellulose, and cellulose fractions without the use of biochemical, chemical, and/or mechanical pretreatments. These pretreatment strategies add operational cost and in some cases produce hazardous waste that poses health and safety risks. Direct biological pretreatment from biomass-degrading bacteria and fungi may significantly reduce the costs and risks associated with these traditional strategies due to the innate ability of these organisms to modify plant cell walls. An additional measure that could further reduce the expenses associated with lignocellulosic biomass fractionation is genetic modification of the lignocellulosic feedstocks, which can be accomplished by …

Biological Species Concepts In Eastern North American Populations Of Lentinellus Ursinus, Andrew N. Miller

Masters Theses

As part of a biosystematic study of the Lentinellus ursinus species complex, field and herbarium specimens from North America, Central America, and Europe were examined. Single basidiospore isolates from basidiomata collected in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Tennessee, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Costa Rica, and Austria were crossed in all possible combinations to determine the mating system operating in each population. All populations exhibited bifactorial or tetrapolar mating systems. Tester strains were then crossed to identify intercompatible populations and to determine if morphological species in the L. ursinus species complex are congruent with biological species. Three biological species were recognized …

A Biosystematic Study Of Panus Conchatus (Basidiomycetes; Agaricales), James Edward Johnson

Masters Theses

As part of a biosystematic study of Panus conchatus (Bull.: Fr.) Fr., North American and European herbarium specimens from the Field Museum and the University of Michigan were examined and a description of the taxon prepared. Tissue and single spore isolates were obtained from basidiocarps collected in Illinois. Single and polyspore isolates were obtained from a collection made in Switzerland by R. H. Petersen. Culture mat analyses were completed on several media and the taxonomic value of cultural characters assessed. Based on this study, the identification of somatic cultures by cultural characteristics is unlikely. Single spore isolates from the Illinois …

A Cytomorphological Study Of Podospora Curvicolla (Winter) Niessl, Stephen F. Tomasino

Masters Theses

A cytomorphological study was performed on Podospora curvicolla, a saprophytic Pyrenomycete. Major emphasis was placed on three important features: (I) ascocarp formation and development, (II) centrum structure and (III) ascus development and structure. A comparison with other studies of Podospora and with a genus generally considered closely related, Sordaria, was made to this present study of P. curvicolla.

Initial perithecial formation in P. curvicolla is indicated by a spherical mass of hyphae which may include filaments from many vegetative hyphae, but no apparent ascogonia or antheridia were observed. As the young perithecium matures in P. curvicolla, …

Cytology Of Chaetomidium Fimeti, David D. Kimmel

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

The Morphology And Cytology Of Preussia Vulgare (Corda) Cain, Marcial Antonio Pastor-Corrales

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.

A Taxonomic Study Of The Coprophilous Ascomycetes Of Southeastern Illinois, Alan Douglas Parker

Masters Theses

No abstract provided.