A germ tube is an outgrowth produced by spores of spore-releasing

fungi A fungus ( : fungi or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, separately from ...

during

germination Germination is the process by which an organism grows from a seed or spore. The term is applied to the sprouting of a seedling from a seed of an angiosperm or gymnosperm, the growth of a sporeling from a spore, such as the spores of fungi, fer ...

. The germ tube differentiates, grows, and develops by

mitosis In cell biology, mitosis () is a part of the cell cycle in which replicated chromosomes are separated into two new nuclei. Cell division by mitosis gives rise to genetically identical cells in which the total number of chromosomes is mainta ...

to create

somatic hyphae The life stage at which a fungus lives, grows, and develops, gathering nutrients and energy. The fungus uses this stage to proliferate itself through asexually created mitotic spores. Cycles through somatic hyphae, zoosporangia, zoospore A zo ...

.C.J. Alexopolous, Charles W. Mims, M. Blackwell, ''Introductory Mycology, 4th ed.'' (John Wiley and Sons, Hoboken NJ, 2004) A germ tube test is a

diagnostic test A medical test is a medical procedure performed to detect, diagnose, or monitor diseases, disease processes, susceptibility, or to determine a course of treatment. Medical tests such as, physical and visual exams, diagnostic imaging, genetic ...

in which a sample of fungal spores are suspended in animal serum and examined by

microscopy Microscopy is the technical field of using microscopes to view objects and areas of objects that cannot be seen with the naked eye (objects that are not within the resolution range of the normal eye). There are three well-known branches of micr ...

for the detection of any germ tubes.Chapter IV. Germ Tube Test i
YEAST IDENTIFICATION
document at doctorfungus.org. Retrieved July 2011 It is particularly indicated for colonies of white or cream color on

fungal culture A fungus ( : fungi or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as a kingdom, separately from th ...

, where a positive germ tube test is strongly indicative of ''

Candida albicans ''Candida albicans'' is an opportunistic pathogenic yeast that is a common member of the human gut flora. It can also survive outside the human body. It is detected in the gastrointestinal tract and mouth in 40–60% of healthy adults. It is us ...

''.

References

Fungal morphology and anatomy {{mycology-stub

See also

References