Cytological and chemical changes in cell walls of Rhodotorula gracilis. III. Characteristics and life cycle of the yeast.

The phenotype and genotype of six strains of the genus Rhodotorula Harrison and of one strain of the genus Cryptococcus Phaff et Fell, with anomalous thickening of cell walls were investigated. The present studies showed that the strains investigated represent different stages of the life cycles of the genus Rhodosporidium Banno. The anomalous thickening of the cell walls can be explained by extreme conditions resulting in the formation of surviving forms (teliospores, chlamydospores).