Dikaryosis: Genetic Determination in Schizophyllum

A dominant gene, dik(+), has been identified as responsible for the establishment of the dikaryon in the basidiomycetous fungus Schizophyllum commune. Interaction between compatible homokaryons, both of which carry the recessive allele dik, leads to the formation of a diploid mycelium that closely resembles the homokaryon in morphology.