Spore fine structure in Clostridium cochlearium.

The fine structure of Clostridium cochlearium was examined by use of thin sections, negative stains, and carbon replicas. Particular attention was given to details of the sporulation process and to fine structure of the spores. Spore coat formation was well advanced before the first evidence of cortex formation was noted. Three distinct spore coats were detected, the outermost of which was composed of seven layers. In addition, the spores possessed tubular appendages of variable length attached to one end of the spore. These differed in a number of respects from those described for other clostridia.