Rhizopus stolonifer sporangiospores: A wet-harvested spore is not a native spore

Rhizopus stolonifer sporangiospores were harvested with and without contact with water. The wet-harvested spores differed from the dry-harvested spores in that they: (i) incorporated ¹⁴CO₂ into both tricarboxylic acid-soluble and -insoluble material; (ii) possessed polyribosomes; (iii) did not maintain viability during storage at room temperature; and (iv) gradually exhibited altered nutritional requirements for germination. Consequently, wet-harvested spores cannot be considered to be either native or dormant. Even brief (30 min) exposures to water during harvesting caused the spores to commence metabolic activity.