Gametangium-like Structures as Propagation Buds in Codium edule Silva (Bryopsidales, Chlorophyta)
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J.-S. Chang
Abstract
Gametangium-like structures were found on the sides of utricles of Codium edule collected during the latter period of its growing season in southern Taiwan. They are usually fusiform and bigger than the regular gametangia, but do not contain gametes. In addition, the gametangium-like structures bear protuberances on their surface, a character not observed in regular gametangia. In culture, the protuberances extended into filaments that developed new utricles terminally after two weeks. This indicates that the gametangium-like structures, named propagation buds, have the potential to form new thalli and can be regarded as an effective reproductive structure. In the field, the abundance of both gametangia and propagation buds on the macrothalli of C. edule was highest towards the end of its growing season, in August. Microspectrophotometric studies with DAPI showed that relative fluorescent units of nuclei in propagation buds were similar in number to those in the utricles, and were higher than those in the gametangia. We suggest that the propagation buds are possibly transformed gametangia with incomplete meiosis. The propagation buds may serve as a persistent stage when the macrothalli disintegrate at the end of the growing season, and act as a “seed bank” for vegetative reproduction for C. edule in the next season.
Copyright © 2003 by Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co. KG
Articles in the same Issue
- To Gerald T. Boalch, with Our Gratitude
- Growth and Survival of the Invasive Green Alga Codium fragile ssp. tomentosoides in Tide Pools on a Rocky Shore in Nova Scotia
- Structure of the Macroalgal Community Associated with the Seagrass Halodule wrightii Ascherson in the Abrolhos Marine National Park, Brazil
- The Life History of Lophothamnion hirtum (Hook. f. et Harv.) Womersley (Rhodophyta, Ceramiaceae) from Southern New Zealand
- Gametangium-like Structures as Propagation Buds in Codium edule Silva (Bryopsidales, Chlorophyta)
- Ultrastructural Study of Zoosporogenesis in the Siphonous Green Alga Derbesia tenuissima (Chlorophyta)
- Schimmelmannia venezuelensis sp. nov. (Gloiosiphoniaceae, Rhodophyta) from Venezuela
- Fatty Acids of Species in the Genus Codium
- Rheological Characteristics of Fucoidan Isolated from Commercially Cultured Cladosiphon okamuranus
- Effects of Light, Salinity and Inorganic Nitrogen on Cell Growth and Spirolide Production in the Marine Dinoflagellate Alexandrium ostenfeldii (Paulsen) Balech et Tangen
- Morphology of Prorocentrum minimum (Dinophyceae) in the Baltic Sea and in Chesapeake Bay: Comparison of Cell Shapes and Thecal Ornamentation
- Ordinal Placement of Selected Marine Dothideomycetes Inferred from Small Subunit Ribosomal DNA Sequence Analysis
- Meetings
Articles in the same Issue
- To Gerald T. Boalch, with Our Gratitude
- Growth and Survival of the Invasive Green Alga Codium fragile ssp. tomentosoides in Tide Pools on a Rocky Shore in Nova Scotia
- Structure of the Macroalgal Community Associated with the Seagrass Halodule wrightii Ascherson in the Abrolhos Marine National Park, Brazil
- The Life History of Lophothamnion hirtum (Hook. f. et Harv.) Womersley (Rhodophyta, Ceramiaceae) from Southern New Zealand
- Gametangium-like Structures as Propagation Buds in Codium edule Silva (Bryopsidales, Chlorophyta)
- Ultrastructural Study of Zoosporogenesis in the Siphonous Green Alga Derbesia tenuissima (Chlorophyta)
- Schimmelmannia venezuelensis sp. nov. (Gloiosiphoniaceae, Rhodophyta) from Venezuela
- Fatty Acids of Species in the Genus Codium
- Rheological Characteristics of Fucoidan Isolated from Commercially Cultured Cladosiphon okamuranus
- Effects of Light, Salinity and Inorganic Nitrogen on Cell Growth and Spirolide Production in the Marine Dinoflagellate Alexandrium ostenfeldii (Paulsen) Balech et Tangen
- Morphology of Prorocentrum minimum (Dinophyceae) in the Baltic Sea and in Chesapeake Bay: Comparison of Cell Shapes and Thecal Ornamentation
- Ordinal Placement of Selected Marine Dothideomycetes Inferred from Small Subunit Ribosomal DNA Sequence Analysis
- Meetings
