FIG. 2.

Accumulation of membrane-disrupted cells at the late stages of sporulation. Cells from strain 168 were grown to T₃, T₆, T₉, T₁₂, and T₁₈ in resuspension medium. (A) Images of typical mother cell-lysed cells. In rupture I, the cell contained the developed forespore fixed on the polar site in the mother cell, and disrupted membrane was detected on the other side in the mother cell. In rupture II, the cell contained the developed forespore detached on the polar site in the mother cell, and disrupted membrane was detected on both sides in the mother cell. PC, phase-contrast. (B) Quantification of morphological categories in the cell population at the late stages of sporulation in resuspension medium. Altogether, over 800 cells were counted.