Vacuolation, branch production and linear growth of germ tubes in Candida albicans.

During germination of yeast cells of Candida albicans in liquid or solid serum-containing media the parent yeast cell and the sub-apical regions of the emerging germ tube became extensively vacuolated. Intercalary compartments were often almost entirely vacuolated, while the apices of germ tubes and branches maintained a high cell solids content. This length of non-vacuolate hypha may correspond to the growth zone of the organism. These observations may explain the observed unexpected linear growth of these germ tubes and the delay between septation and branch formation during filamentous growth.