Premium
EVIDENCE FOR SEXUAL REPRODUCTION IN THE MARINE DINOFLAGELLATES, PYROCYSTIS NOCTILUCA AND PYROCYSTIS LUNULA (DINOPHYTA)
Author(s) -
Seo Kyung Suk,
Fritz Lawrence
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
journal of phycology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.85
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1529-8817
pISSN - 0022-3646
DOI - 10.1046/j.1529-8817.2001.037004530.x
Subject(s) - biology , dinoflagellate , sexual reproduction , gamete , botany , reproduction , human fertilization , cell division , asexual reproduction , zoology , ecology , cell , anatomy , sperm , genetics
Evidence for sexual reproduction was observed in two oceanic dinoflagellate species, Pyrocystis noctiluca Murray ex Haeckel and Pyrocystis lunula (Schütt) Schütt. Observations suggest that cells underwent fertilization as opposed to cell division because of the following: first, fusing cells had a conspicuous pore (fusion pore) connecting the two gametes; dividing cells lacked this feature. In culture, about 0.1% of P. noctiluca cells had a fusion pore, which serves as a possible site for gamete recognition on the cell wall. Second, we document a temporal progression of plasmogamy and karyogamy. Fusion events in both species were observed at the beginning of the day, whereas division stages were most apparent at the end of the day.