dikaryotic
|di-ka-ry-ot-ic|
🇺🇸
/ˌdaɪkəˈrɪɑtɪk/
🇬🇧
/ˌdaɪkəˈrɪɒtɪk/
two nuclei per cell
Etymology
'dikaryotic' originates from New Latin, specifically the word 'dikaryon', where the prefix 'di-' meant 'two' and 'karyon' meant 'nucleus'.
'dikaryotic' developed as an English scientific adjective from New Latin 'dikaryon' (itself from Greek 'di-' + 'karyon'), with the adjectival suffix '-ic' added in modern scientific usage.
Initially it referred directly to the noun 'dikaryon' (a cell with two nuclei); over time it has been used adjectivally to describe tissues or stages characterized by that condition, a meaning that has remained consistent in mycology.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
having a dikaryon; describing fungal cells (or tissues) in which each cell contains two genetically distinct nuclei (typically one from each parent) — a dikaryotic condition.
After plasmogamy the mycelium entered a dikaryotic stage in which most cells contained two distinct nuclei.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/14 06:10