Fig 3.

Appearance and increase of the ECM of P. rubens. Conidia in a dry state were applied to gypsum with additional nutrients and incubated at 97% RH and 21°C. (A) At t = 1 h after inoculation, dehydrated conidia on the gypsum surface. (B) ECM appears on the conidia (t = 5 h). (C) ECM increases with time and covers the conidia and the gypsum surface (t = 26 h). (D) Sample incubated for 14 h at 97% RH and subsequently placed for 29 h at 33% RH. The ECM is robust upon drying, and collapsed conidia underneath are visible (t = 43 h). Scale bars, 5 μm. The pictures shown represent specific growth phases and were not necessarily taken at the onset of the growth phase. For the onset, see Fig. 1.