Question

Agaricus basidiocarp is having 60 basidia. Find out number of nuclear fusions, meiotic divisions and basidiospores formed from that basidiocarp

• A. 60; 60 & 240
• B. 30; 30 & 120
• C. 60; 30 & 240
• D. 30; 60 & 120

Hint:

Basidium → 1 karyogamy → 1 meiosis → 4 basidiospores.
Multiply basidia \(\times\) 4 to get basidiospores.
Clear mapping of events per reproductive unit helps avoid counting errors.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

1. Each basidium undergoes one nuclear fusion (karyogamy) to form a diploid nucleus — so number of nuclear fusions equals number of basidia. For 60 basidia: nuclear fusions = 60.
2. Each basidium then undergoes one meiotic division (meiosis I and II sequence considered as one meiotic event) producing four haploid nuclei which form four basidiospores. Thus meiotic divisions per basidium = 1, total meiotic divisions = 60.
3. Each basidium produces 4 basidiospores, so total basidiospores = 60 \(\times\) 4 = 240.
4. Therefore the counts are 60 nuclear fusions; 60 meiotic divisions; 240 basidiospores — (1) 60; 60 & 240.