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Cytological, genetic, and biochemical characteristics of an unusual non‐ C hlorella photobiont of S tentor polymorphus collected from an artificial pond close to the shore of L ake B iwa, J apan
Author(s) -
Hoshina Ryo,
Sato Emi,
Shibata Aika,
Fujiwara Yuko,
Kusuoka Yasushi,
Imamura Nobutaka
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
phycological research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.438
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 1440-1835
pISSN - 1322-0829
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1835.2012.00664.x
Subject(s) - pyrenoid , biology , botany , ciliate , chloroplast , algae , ecology , gene , biochemistry
Summary S tentor polymorphus ( M üller) E hrenberg ( H eterotrichea, C iliophora) is a trumpet‐form ciliate with endosymbiotic green algae (photobionts). Previous reports have indicated that this photobiont has a form typical of C hlorella B eijerinck ( T rebouxiophyceae), with one chloroplast and a distinct pyrenoid. We collected S . polymorphus from an artificial pond on the shore of L ake B iwa in J apan. Microscopic examination demonstrated that there was no pyrenoid in the photobiont, and thus we analyzed the cytological, genetic, and biochemical characteristics of these algal cells. Cultured photobionts were smaller than those in hospite . Phylogenetic analyses placed the photobiont within the genus M ychonastes S impson and V an V alkenburg, a chlorophycean alga occurring in fresh/brackish waters that lacks pyrenoids. M ychonastes provided little photosynthate to its host; the quantity of carbohydrate amounted to only 2% of that provided to P aramecium bursaria ( E hrenberg) F ocker by its photobiont.