The '''auxiliary cell''' is a spore-like structure that forms within the fungal family Gigasporaceae (order Gigasporales<ref name=Oehl2011/>). Auxiliary cells have thin cell walls, {{lichengloss|echinulate}} (spiny), papillate, knobby or sometimes smooth surfaces, and are formed from hyphae after spore germination before the formation of mycorrhizae, and then on the extraradical hyphae in the soil.<ref name=Muller2004/> They may not be 'cells' in the biological sense of the word, as they are structures found with coenocytic hyphae belonging to members of the phylum (division) Glomeromycota. Mostly they are known from members of the Gigasporaceae. Currently this family contains ''Gigaspora'', ''Scutellospora'' and ''Racocetra'', but there are other generic names that have not been widely accepted (''Dentiscutata'', ''Cetraspora'', ''Fuscutata'' and ''Quatunica'') — all of these form auxiliary cells. Members of the genus ''Pacispora'' (another genus in the Diversisporales) are also said to produce a kind of auxiliary cell but this requires further confirmation.<ref name=Walker1986/>
==References== {{Reflist|refs=
<ref name=Muller2004>{{cite book |vauthors=Mueller GM, Bills GF, Mueller GM, Foster MS |title=Biodiversity of Fungi: Inventory and Monitoring Methods |publisher=Elsevier Academic Press |location=Amsterdam |year=2004 |page=333 |isbn=0-12-509551-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Du2bi4tgcVcC&dq=auxiliary+cell+gigasporaceae&pg=PA333}}</ref>
<ref name=Walker1986>{{cite journal |vauthors=Walker C, Sanders FE |year=1986 |title=Taxonomic concepts in the Endogonaceae: III. The separation of ''Scutellospora'' gen. nov. from ''Gigaspora'' Gerd. & Trappe |journal=Mycotaxon |volume=27 |pages=169–82 |url=http://www.cybertruffle.org.uk/cyberliber/59575/0027/0169.htm}}</ref>
<ref name=Oehl2011>{{cite journal |vauthors= Oehl F, Goto BT, da Silva GA, Leonor M |year=2011 | title=Glomeromycota: Two new classes and a new order. |journal=Mycotaxon |volume=116 |pages=365–379|doi=10.5248/116.365 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/233708522|doi-access=free }}</ref>
}}
thumb|A cluster of spiny to papillate auxiliary cells from a species of ''Gigaspora'' thumb|A cluster of knobby auxiliary cells from a species of ''Scutellospora''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Auxiliary Cell}} Category:Fungal morphology and anatomy
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