MATING TYPES IN TETRAHYMENA

¹ Department of Zoology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, Massachusetts

1. Conjugating strains representing three different mating types of Tetrahymena pyriformis have been isolated from fresh water ponds in the Woods Hole, Massachusetts, area and established in axenic cultures.

2. These strains have the same amino acid and vitamin requirements as T. pyriformis E.

3. The cytology of conjugation is described.

4. Routine laboratory procedures for obtaining conjugation and establishing exconjugant clones (F₁ and successive generations) are presented.

5. Some of the factors influencing conjugation in T. pyriformis (nutritive state, temperature, oxygenation, agitation, culture age, and sexual maturity) are discussed and compared with reports in the literature dealing with conjugation in other ciliates.

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