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ULTRASTRUCTURE OF SPERMATIUM LIBERATION IN THE MARINE RED ALGA PTILOTA DENSA 1
Author(s) -
Scott J. L.,
Dixon P. S.
Publication year - 1973
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 - 10.1111/j.0022-3646.1973.00085.x
Subject(s) - ultrastructure , biology , vacuole , vesicle , golgi apparatus , algae , cell wall , cytoplasm , microbiology and biotechnology , botany , biochemistry , endoplasmic reticulum , membrane
SUMMARY The differentiation of male gametes of the marine red alga Ptilota densa was studied by electron microscopy. Mature primary spermatangia are enveloped by a single cell wall and possess a clearly polar subcellular organization. The nucleus is situated apical to large, striated, fibrous vacuoles which are apparently formed by the repeated fusion of dictyosome vesicles. The transformation and liberation of spermatia from spermatangia involve both the secretion of the fibrous vacuoles at the base of the cell and the subsequent rupturing of the spermatangial cell wall. Liberated spermatia are coated with a thin mucilage layer and contain numerous small vesicles and several mitochondria and dictyosomes. The nucleus is cup‐shaped and generally lacks a limiting envelope. These findings are discussed in relation to other light and electron microscopic studies of differentiating spermatangia in red algae.