Synthesis of ribonucleic acids during the germination of Botryodiplodia theobromae pycnidiospores.

During the initial phases of germination of Botryodiplodia theobromae pycnidiospores, protein synthesis was initiated in the absence of detectable ribonucleic acid (RNA) synthesis. The lack of RNA synthesis during the early stages of germination was not an artefact due to reduced precursor permeability or to changes in the nucleotide pool. Further studies showed that the synthesis of messenger RNA and transfer RNA began about 30 min after the initiation of germination and that of 5S RNA after 45 min, whereas ribosomal RNA synthesis was not detected until after 1 h of germination. Approximately 45 to 55% of the messenger-like RNA synthesized during the first hour of germination was devoid of polyadenylate segments.