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ON THE RELEASE OF SPERMS IN ATRICHUM
Author(s) -
Paolillo D. J.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
american journal of botany
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.218
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1537-2197
pISSN - 0002-9122
DOI - 10.1002/j.1537-2197.1977.tb07608.x
Subject(s) - antheridium , biology , sperm , contraction (grammar) , sucrose , biophysics , anatomy , botany , biochemistry , endocrinology , spore , sporangium
An antheridium of Atrichum contracts when it opens. This contraction rapidly ejects much of the mass of sperms because a fluid present in the base of the antheridial chamber acts as an hydraulic ram. The residue of sperms is slowly extruded as the same fluid takes up water. Photographs allow the construction of time courses that directly demonstrate the existence of two phases (rapid vs. slow) in sperm release. Antheridia open as quickly in 1 m sucrose as they do in water. Molar sucrose allows only the rapid phase of sperm release, caused by the contraction of the jacket, and the antheridia remain only partly emptied. This behavior in sucrose solution provides a convenient test for similarities among antheridia. The mechanism of sperm release that occurs in Atrichum occurs in Polytrichum and Mnium as well.