Sexuality and morphogenesis in the homobasidiomycete Coprinus cinereus

The homobasidiomycete Coprinus cinereus is easy to grow in the laboratory and produces fruit bodies in a relatively short period(about 10 days). The fungus is heterothallic, undergoes remarkable morphogenesis as well as naturally synchronous meiosis in the sexual process, and hence provides a unique opportunity for studies of sexuality, meiosis and morphogenesis. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms for sexuality and morphogenesis in C. cinereus, we have been analyzing various mutants having defects in the processes.