Ultrastructure of post-fertilization development in the red alga Nienburgia andersoniana (Delesseriaceae, Ceramiales, Rhodophyta)

The ultrastructure of post-fertilization development in Nienburgia andersoniana (J. Ag.) Kyl. is described. Above the auxiliary cell there is a group of four sterile cells. The presence of abundant storage products (starch granules, lipid bodies and protein crystals) in these cells indicates that the sterile cells function as nutrient suppliers to the young auxiliary and gonimoblast cells of the carposporophyte during its early steps of development. Following fertilization and transfer of the diploid nucleus to the auxiliary cell, the trichogyne disappears and large multinucleate gonimoblast initials are produced. These subsequently produce generative gonimoblast cells which cleave successively to form young carpospores. Those of the gonimoblast cells which will not differentiate into carpospores are transformed into cells producing mucilage. Both kinds of gonimoblast cells contain plastids, starch granules, cytoplasmic concentric membrane bodies and small vesicles. Dark-staining spherical masses occurring in the cytoplasm of the auxiliary and gonimoblast cells may represent degenerating haploid nuclei. Septal plugs interconnecting the auxiliary cell and gonimoblast cells increase considerably in size during carposporophyte development. The fusion cell at the late stage of carposporophyte development appears degenerative. Young carpospores have plastids and mitochondria, and concentric membrane bodies that will form mucilage sacs. Medium-aged carpospores have fully developed plastids, starch granules and fibrous vacuoles. Mature carpospores possess, in addition, cored vesicles. The inner pericarp cells contribute large amounts of mucilage to the cytostocarpic cavity and eventually are consumed. © 2003 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2003, 142 , 289–299.     

A Light Microscope Study of Carposporophyte Development in Gracilaria verrucosa (Hudson) Papenfuss

Gracilaria verrucosa is a very common marine red alga of Greekcoasts. The diploid carposporophyte which develops attachedto the female gametophyte of Gracilaria is described. The immaturecystocarps are very small while the mature ones are globose,ostiolate and are borne profusely all over the surface of thethallus. The earliest observed fusion cell is small and fusesprogressively with adjacent vegetative cells to form a largemultinucleate cell. From this fusion cell gonimoblast initialsoriginate, dividing further and giving rise to a large numberof gonimoblast cells. The resultant carposporophyte consistsof a basal-central, multinucleate cell surrounded by a conicalor hemispherical mass of gonimoblast cells. Chains or clustersof successively maturing carpospores are borne from the terminalgonimoblast cells. The liberation of mature carpospores takesplace through the ostiole of the cystocarp. The liberated carposporeslack cell walls and are naked in a mucilage mass. Gracilaria verrucosa (Hudson) Papenfuss, Gigartinales, Gracilariaceae, Rhodophyta, carposporophyte, development     

Ultrastructure of post-fertilization development in the red alga Scinaia articulata (Galaxauraceae,Nemaliales, Rhodophyta)

The ultrastructure of the carposporophyte and carposporogenesis is described for the red alga Scinaia articulata Setch. After fertilization, the trichogyne disappears, and the pericarp develops to form a thick protective tissue that surrounds the carposporophyte. The hypogynous cell cuts off both one-celled and two-celled sterile branches. Patches of chromatin are frequently observed in evaginations of the nuclear envelope, which appear to produce vesicles in the cytoplasm of the cell of the sterile branch. Large gonimoblast lobes extend from the carpogonium and cleave to form gonimoblast initials. Subsequently, a fusion cell is formed from fusions of the carpogonium, the hypogynous cell and the basal cell of the carpogonial branch. The mature carposporophyte comprises the fusion cell that is connected to the sterile branch cells, gonimoblast cells and carpospores and is surrounded by extensive mucilage. Young carpospores possess a large nucleus and proplastids with a peripheral thylakoid, but they have few dictyosomes and starch granules and are indistinguishable from gonimoblast cells. Subsequently, dictyosomes are formed, which produce vesicles with an electron-dense granule, which indicates an initiation of wall deposition. Thylakoid formation coincides with incipient starch granule deposition. The nuclear envelope produces fibrous vacuoles and concentric membrane bodies. Carpospores are interconnected by pit connections with two cap layers. Dictyosome activity increases, resulting in the production of vesicles, which either continue to deposit wall material or coalesce to form fibrous vacuoles. The final stage of carposporogenesis is characterized by the massive production of cored vesicles from curved dictyosomes. Mature carpospores are uninucleate and contain fully developed chloroplasts, numerous cored vesicles, numerous starch granules and fibrous vacuoles. The mature carpospore is surrounded by a wall layer and a separating layer, but a carposporangial wall is lacking.     

ULTRASTRUCTURE OF AUXILIARY AND GONIMOBLAST CELLS DURING CARPOSPOROPHYTE DEVELOPMENT IN FAUCHEOCOLAX ATTENUATA (RHODOPHYTA)1

The ultra structure of post-fertilization development in Faucheocolax attenuata Setch. is described. Following fertilization and transfer of the diploid nucleus to the auxiliary cell, four gonimoblast initials usually are produced of the multinucleate auxiliary cell. Gonimoblast initials originally are uninucleate but undergo karyokinesis to form multinudeate gonimoblast cells. Terminal or generative gonimoblast cells cleave successively to form lobes of incipient carpospores, with each group of spores differentiating synchronously. Portions of the initial generative gonimoblast cells, however, remain to resume karyokinesis and repeat the process of cleavage into carpospores. Axial gonimoblast cells are transformed into secretory cells, which produce mucilage. Generative gonimoblast cells and auxiliary cells are similar in cellular structure. Both contain typical red algal proplastids, some dictyosomes, cytoplasmic concentric membranes, and numerous small vesicles. In addition, dark staining spherical masses, occurring in the cytoplasm of all cell types, may represent dehydrated haploid chromatin. Large septal plugs interconnect gonimoblast cells and the auxiliary cell. These plugs are small when first formed but increase dramatically in size during carposporophyte development.     

LEACHIELLA PACIFICA,GEN. ET SP. NOV., A NEW PARASITIC RED ALGA FROM WASHINGTON AND CALIFORNIA

Leachiella pacifica, gen. et sp. nov., a marine alloparasitic red alga is described from Washington and California. Several species of Polysiphonia and Pterosiphonia are hosts for this parasite. The thallus is a white, multiaxial, unbranched pustule with rhizoidal filaments that ramify between host cells, forming numerous secondary pit connections with host cells. All reproductive structures develop from outer cortical cells. Tetrasporocytes, situated on stalk cells, undergo simultaneous, tetrahedral cleavage to form tetraspores. Spermatia are formed continuously by oblique cleavages of the elongate spermatial generating cells. This results in spermatial clusters consisting of 4–8 spermatia in an alternate arrangement. Carposporophyte development is procarpial. The carpogonium is part of a six-celled branch including a sterile cell that is formed by the basal cell. The carpogonial branch is attached laterally to an obovate supporting cell that also forms an auxiliary cell, presumably formed prior to fertilization. After fertilization the carpogonium temporarily fuses with the auxiliary cell apparently to transfer the diploid nucleus and initiate further fusion with the subtending supporting cell to form an incipient fusion cell. The auxiliary cell portion of this fusion cell divides to form gonimoblast initials that continue to divide, forming gonimoblast filaments whose terminal cells differentiate into carpospores. The remainder of the fusion cell enlarges by continual fusion with adjacent vegetative cells. The resultant carposporophyte consists of a basal, multinucleate fusion cell supporting a hemispherical cluster of gonimoblast filaments with terminally borne carpospores. Vegetatively, Leachiella resembles several other parasitic red algae but it is clearly separated by the procarp, carposporophyte development and structure, and tetrasporocyte cleavage.     

A re-examination of the morphology and reproduction of Nothocladus lindaueri (Batrachospermales, Rhodophyta)

The vegetative morphology and reproduction of the freshwater rhodophyte Nothocladus lindaueri Skuja [=Batrachospermum lindaueri (Skuja) Necchi et Entwisle] were examined by light and electron microscopy. It was confirmed that this alga has a typical batrachospermalean pit plug with two cap layers, the outer one of which is domed. During elongation of hair cells, the primary wall is broken, forming a basal collar. Hair cells have a single nucleus and abundant Golgi bodies, en-doplasmic reticula (ER) and vesicles. Dividing apical cells of the fascicles have a nucleus with art adjacent zone of exclusion, the latter containing a single polar ring. Branched trichogynes and fertilized carpogonia are shown for the first time in this species. Carpogonial branch and involucral cells contain a prominent axial nucleus, proplastids, ER and vesicles. The pit plugs disintegrate among these cells leaving open pit connections. Carpogonia have plentiful mitochondria and vesicles. The wall at the trichogyne apex is thickened and densely stained. The carposporophyte centre consists of a mass of fusion cells with open pit connections, and indeterminate gonimoblast filaments arise from this mass. The combination of a symmetrical carpogonial base, a carposporophyte centre consisting of a mass of fusion cells, and exclusively indeterminate gonimoblast filaments appears to be unique among the members of the Batrachospermaceae. The specimen of N. lindaueri contains epiphytic filaments of Audouinella meiospora producing both spermatangia and monosporangia. Spermatium formation in N. lindaueri remains unknown.     

ULTRASTRUCTURE OF CARPOSPOROGENESIS IN THE PARASITIC RED ALGA FAUCHEOCOLAX ATTENUATA SETCH. (RHODYMENIALES,RHODYMENIACEAE)

Carpospore differentiation in Faucheocolax attenuata Setch. can be separated into three developmental stages. Immediately after cleaving from the multinucleate gonimoblast cell, young carpospores are embedded within confluent mucilage produced by gonimoblast cells. These carpospores contain a large nucleus, few starch grains, concentric lamellae, as well as proplastids with a peripheral thylakoid and occasionally some internal (photosynthetic) thylakoids. Proplastids also contain concentric lamellar bodies. Mucilage with a reticulate fibrous substructure is formed within cytoplasmic concentric membranes, thus giving rise to mucilage sacs. Subsequently, these mucilage sacs release their contents, forming an initial reticulate deposition of carpospore wall material. Dictyosome vesicles with large, single dark-staining granules also contribute to wall formation and may create a separating layer between the mucilage and carpospore wall. During the latter stages of young carpospores, starch is polymerized in the perinuclear cytoplasmic area and is in close contact with endoplasmic reticulum. Intermediate-aged carpospores continue their starch polymerization. Dictyosomes deposit more wall material, in addition to forming fibrous vacuoles. Proplastids form thylakoids from concentric lamellar bodies. Mature carpospores are surrounded by a two-layered carpospore wall. Cytoplasmic constituents include large floridean starch granules, peripheral fibrous vacuoles, mature chloroplasts and curved dictyosomes that produce cored vesicles which in turn are transformed into adhesive vesicles. Pit connections remain intact between carpospores but begin to degenerate. This degeneration appears to be mediated by microtubules.     

ULTRASTRUCTURE OF CARPOSPOROPHYTE DEVELOPMENT IN THE RED ALGA GLOIOSIPHONIA VERTICILLARIS (CRYPTONEMIALES,GLOIOSIPHONIACEAE)

The ultrastructure of carposporophyte development is described for the red alga Gloiosiphonia verticillaris Farl. The auxiliary cell produces gonimoblast initials, which divide to produce two types of gonimoblast cells—the nondividing vacuolate cells and terminal generative gonimoblast cells. The generative gonimoblast cells form clusters of carpospore initials, which eventually differentiate into carpospores. After gonimoblast filaments are formed, the auxiliary cell undergoes autolysis, causing degeneration of septal plugs between the auxiliary cell and adjacent cells, thus forming a fusion cell. Since this cell lacks starch and appears degenerate throughout carposporophyte development, a nutritive function cannot be ascribed to the fusion cell. Carpospore differentiation is simple and proceeds through three developmental stages. Young carpospores structurally resemble gonimoblast cells, because they contain undeveloped plastids, large quantities of floridean starch, and are surrounded by extensive mucilage instead of a distinct wall. In addition, dictyosomes form and begin to produce vesicles with fibrous contents representing carpospore wall material. During the intermediate stage, dictyosomes continue to produce vesicles that contribute additional carpospore wall material, thereby compressing the mucilage and creating a darker-staining layer outside the carpospore wall. Plastids form internal thylakoids by invaginations of the inner membrane of the peripheral thylakoid. The endoplasmic reticulum forms large granular vacuoles that appear to be degraded during subsequent stages of development. Mature carpospores form cored vesicles. They also contain mature chloroplasts, large amounts of floridean starch, and occasionally granular vacuoles. During this stage, interconnecting carpospore-carpospore and carpospore-gonimoblast cell septal plugs begin to undergo degeneration. This process may be mediated by tubular structures.     

ULTRASTRUCTURE OF THE CARPOSPOROPHYTE AND CARPOSPOROGENESIS IN THE PARASITIC RED ALGA PLOCAMIOCOLAX PULVINATA SETCH, (GIGARTINALES,PLOCAMIACEAE) 1

The ultrastructure of the carposporophyte and carposporogenesis is described for the parasitic red alga Plocamiocolax pulvinata Setch. After presumed fertilization the zygote nucleus is apparently transferred to the auxiliary cell which initiates gonimoblast cell production. These gonimoblast cells differentiate into storage or generative cells. Storage gonimoblast cells (SGC) are large and multinucleate, contain large quantities of starch and are located nearest the auxiliary cell, when compared to the smaller uninucleate, devoid of starch, generative gonimoblast cells (GGC) that form terminal lobes of carpospores. In addition, compressed membrane bodies and annulate lamellae are common in these cells. During carposporophyte maturation the amount of starch in the SGC's decreases and eventually the auxiliary cell, as well as SGC's, degenerate. Generative gonimoblast cells (GGC's) cleave repeatedly to form carpospores which are interconnected by small pit connections. Stage one-carpospores are recognized by their elongated shape, the formation of small     

STRUCTURE AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE CARPOSPOROPHYTE OF NEMALION HELMINTHOIDES (NEMALIONALES,RHODOPHYTA)1

Following fertilization, the carposporophyte of Nemalion helminthoides (Velley in With.) Batters differentiates into four distinct regions: the fusion cell, the sterile gonimoblast cells, the carposporangial mother cells and the carposporangia. The gonimoblast is formed by apically dividing, monopodial filaments of limited growth which may later become pseudodichotomous. Upon differentiation of a terminal carposporangium, a gonimoblast filament may continue to grow sympodially. A single carposporangial mother cell may produce carposporangia in several different directions as well as proliferate successive carposporangia within the sporangial walls that remain after carpospore liberation. As the carposporophyte matures, the gonimoblast initial, the stalk cell, the hypogynous and subhypogynous cells fuse. Except for the fusion cell, all cells of the carposporophyte show organelle polarity and contain a distally located, lobed chloroplast and proximal nucleus.     

MORPHOLOGY AND DEVELOPMENT OF AHNFELTIA PLICATA (RHODOPHYTA): PROPOSAL OF AHNFELTIALES ORD. NOV.1

Ahnfeltia plicata (Hudson) Fries, the type species of Ahnfeltia Fries, is currently assigned to the Phyllophoraceae (Gigartinales). Several morphological and biochemical characters distance A. plicata from the Phyllophoraceae but, because sexual reproduction has never been demonstrated, an alternative placement has not been possible. A. plicata now is shown to have a heteromorphic sexual life history. Erect branched gametophytes are dioecious. In male sori, spermatangia are cut off transversely from spermatangial mother cells. Female sori form numerous terminal sessile carpogonia. Following fertilization, several zygotes in each sorus fuse facultatively with undifferentiated intercalary cells of the female sorus and cut off gonimoblast initials obliquely outwards. These initials give rise to branching gonimoblast filaments that fuse with apical and intercalary female sorus cells and with each other, then grow radially outward in the compound external carposporophyte and terminate in carposporangia. Carpospores develop in culture into crustose tetrasporophytes identical to Porphyrodiscus simulans Batters. Field-collected P. simulans tetraspores grew into erect A. plicata axes. Tetrasporangia are formed by division and enlargement of crust apical cells followed by sequential enlargement and maturation of tetrasporocytes in an erosive process. Monosporangia are formed in sori on male gametophytes. Pit plugs of both gametophyte and tetrasporophyte phases consist of naked plug cores without cap layers of membranes. Gametophytes exhibit both cell fusions and secondary pit connections whereas tetrasporophytes form cell fusions but lack secondary pit connections. On the basis of the unique female and postfertilization reproductive development and in conjunction with the pit plug structure which is unique among florideophytes, the order Ahnfeltiales, containing the family Ahnfeltiaceae, is proposed.     

LIGHT AND ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC STUDIES OF THE FUSION CELL IN ASTEROCOLAX GARDNERI SETCH. (RHODOPHYTA,CERAMIALES)12

The fusion cell in Asterocolax gardneri Setch, is a large, multinucleate, irregularly-shaped cell resulting from cytoplasmic fusions of haploid and diploid cells. Subsequent enlargement takes place by incorporating adjacent gonimoblast cells. The resultant cell consists of two parts—a central portion of isolated cytoplasm, surrounded by an electron dense cytoplasmic barrier, and the main component of the fusion cell cytoplasm surrounding the isolated cytoplasm. The fusion cell contains many nuclei, large quantities of floridean starch, endoplasmic reticulum, and vesicles, but few mitochondria, plastids and dictyosomes. The endoplasmic reticulum forms vesicles that apparently secrete large quantities of extracellular mucilage which surrounds the entire carposporophyte. The isolated cytoplasm also is multinucleate but lacks starch and a plasma membrane. Few plastids, ribosomes and mitochondria are found in this cytoplasm. However, numerous endoplasmic reticulum cisternae occur near the cytoplasmic barrier and they appear to secrete material for the barrier. In mature carposporophytes, all organelles in the isolated cytoplasm have degenerated.     

Acid phosphatase activity during spore differentiation of the red algaeGigartina teedii andChondria tenuissima

The acid phosphatase activity during carposporogenesis inGigartina and tetrasporogenesis inChondria was studied using the Gomori technique. During the first steps of gonimoblast maturation ofGigartina, portions of cytoplasm are ensheathed by ER cisternae with acid phosphatase activity, giving rise to autolysosomal concentric membrane bodies. In a similar way large mucilage sacs are severed. They extrude their contents in a kind of exocytosis. Multivesicular bodies, concentrically arranged cisternae and extracytoplasmic compartments, each with acid phosphatase activity, remain in young carpospores for some time, probably as remnants of the autophagocytotic and exocytotic events. The Golgi apparatus is poorly developed in gonimoblast cells and young carpospores. It becomes a prominent cell component in maturing carpospores and then participates in cell wall formation. Only some of the dictyosomal cisternae contain acid phosphatase; these are irregularly distributed in the dictyosome. — In pre- and postmeiotic tetraspore mother cells ofChondria massive lead deposits are found in the dictyosomes and in adjacent Golgi vesicles. Finer lead precipitates occur in ER cisternae, especially in those which are sequestering starch-grain-containing portions of the cytoplasm to give rise to autolysosomes. During cell cleavage, the dictyosomes aggregate. They become devoid of acid phosphatase activity with the exception of vesicles at the trans face. Later, Golgi stacks associate and have common, Gomori positively reacting, narrow cisternae at the cis face. The Golgi apparatus derived cored vesicles do not contain lead precipitates whereas the Golgi cisternae in the final stage of tetrasporogenesis show acid phosphatase activity. Variations in acid phosphatase distribution are explained in the light of current models of membrane flow.Dedicated to Univ.-Prof. DrO. Härtel on the occasion of his 80th birthday.     

ISOLATION OF PHASE-SPECIFIC COMPLE-MENTARY DNAS FROM CARPOSPOROPHYTES OF GRACILARIOPSIS LEMA-NEIFORMIS USING MAGNETIC BEADS AND PCR

Kamiya, M.¹, Moon, D. A.², Kawai, H.¹ & Goff, L. J.^{2 1}Kobe University Research Center for Inland Seas, 2746 Iwaya, Awaji-cho 656-2401 Japan; ²Department of Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064 USA Although the morphology and developmental patterns of carposporophyte stage have been investigated well, there are few molecular, genetic, or biochemical data about this stage. The greatest obstacle to this research has been that the conventional methods to isolate tissue-specific genes require a lot of tissues, but the carposporophyte is very tiny and mostly embedded in female gametophyte tissues. Recent advanced techniques have allowed the subtractive cloning of differentially expressed genes from small amounts of tissue or cells. We applied the subtractive hybridization method using magnetic beads and PCR to the analysis of phase-specific cDNAs from carpo-sporophytes of Gracilariopsis lemaneiformis (Gracilariales, Rhodophyta). A hundred cystocarps were dissected to isolate gonimoblast tissues, and total RNAs were extracted from the gonimoblast tissues and the female gametophyte branches, respectively. Messenger RNAs were captured on paramagnetic oligo-dT beads, followed by first-strand cDNA synthesis on the beads. Three rounds of subtractive hybridization between the amplified second-strand carposporophyte cDNA in solution and the first-strand gametophyte cDNA attached to magnetic beads were sufficient to remove common genes present in both gametophyte and carposporophyte stages. A specific PCR product from the nuclear GAPDH gene was readily amplified from gametophyte and carposporophyte cDNA, but no amplification was observed using the subtracted carposporophyte cDNA as template. This control PCR product demonstrates that the hybridization steps successfully removed the common GAPDH cDNA, which is found in both stages, giving confidence that the remaining genes cloned from the subtracted carposporophyte cDNA library are stage-specific.     

MORPHOLOGY OF PLACENTOPHORA (SOLIERIACEAE,GIGARTINALES: RHODOPHYTA), A NEW GENUS BASED ON SARCODIOTHECA COLENSOI FROM NEW ZEALAND1

The only member of the red algal family Solieriaceae known from New Zealand is the endemic Sarcodiotheca colensoi (Hook. & Harv.) Kylin. This study shows that it differs in several respects from the type S. furcata (Setch. & Gard.) Kylin; thus a new genus Placentophora is created for the New Zealand alga. Although P. colensoi nov. comb. is retained in the Solieriaceae on the basis of vegetative, spermatangial, tetrasporangial, carpogonial-branch and early gonimoblast features, it differs from typical members of that family in its pattern of later carposporophyte development. After a single gonimoblast initial is cut off from the auxiliary cell towards the center of the thallus, further gonimoblasts develop from the initial as ramifying, radiating filaments. These filaments enter an extensive “nutritive-cell” region surrounding the auxiliary cell, form, numerous connections to the “nutritive” cells, and incorporate most of them into a central placenta of interconnected, and variously-fused vegetative and gonimoblast cells. Carpo-sporangia then form in short chains around the periphery of the placenta. The cystocarp lacks both a central fusion cell and a sterile-celled investment, or “Faserhülle.” The distinctive carposporophyte of Placentophora is compared to patterns of gonimoblast development, known in other members of the Solieriaceae.     

A NEW METHOD OF CYSTOCARP DEVELOPMENT IN THE RED ALGAL GENUS CALLOPHYLLIS (KALLYMENIACEAE) FROM CHILE1

Traditional studies suggest that the Kallymeniaceae can be divided into two major groups, a nonprocarpic Kallymenia group, in which carposporophyte formation involves an auxiliary cell branch system separate from the carpogonial branch system, and a procarpic Callophyllis group, in which the carpogonial branch system gives rise to the carposporophyte directly after fertilization. Based on our phylogenetic studies and unpublished observations, the two groups each contain both procarpic and nonprocarpic genera. Here, we describe a new method of reproductive development in Callophyllis concepcionensis Arakaki, Alveal et Ramírez from Chile. The carpogonial branch system consists of a supporting cell bearing both a three‐celled carpogonial branch with trichogyne and two‐lobed “subsidiary” cells. After fertilization, large numbers of secondary subcortical and medullary cells are produced. Lobes of the carpogonial branch system cut off connecting cells containing enlarged, presumably diploid nuclei that fuse with these secondary vegetative cells and deposit their nuclei. Derivative enlarged nuclei are transferred from one vegetative cell to another, which ultimately cut off gonimoblast initials that form filaments that surround the central primary medullary cells and produce carposporangia. The repeated involvement of vegetative cells in gonimoblast formation is a new observation, not only in Callophyllis, but in red algae generally. These results call for a revised classification of the Kallymeniaceae based on new morphological and molecular studies.     

OBSERVATIONS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CARPOSPOROPHYTE OF SCINAIA PSEUDOJAPONICA YAMADA ET TANAKA (NEMALIALES,CHAETANGIACEAE)1

The development of the carposporophyte of Scinaia pseudojaponica Yamada et Tanaka is described for the first time. The carpogonial branch is 3-celled. Before fertilization the hypogynous cell divides into a group of 4 cells. Concurrently the cell beneath the hypogynous cells also produces initials which, following fertilization, develop into branched filaments that envelop the carposporophyte. After fertilization the gonimoblast initial is produced laterally from the basal part of the carpogonium. Carposporangia are produced in chains from the free ends of the gonimoblast filaments which grow toward the surface of the thyllus. A very thick pericarp surrounds the mature carposporophyte.     

The structure and formation of host-parasite pit connections between the red algal alloparasiteHarveyella mirabilis and its red algal hostOdonthalia floccosa

Summary Harveyella mirabilis is a colourless red algal alloparasite which grows on and within its photosynthetic hostOdonthalia floccosa. Cells ofHarveyella establish secondary pit connections (PCs) with other parasite cells and with cells of the host. Small, uninucleate conjunctor cells are produced by parasite cells and remain connected to them by PCs. Conjunctor cells may fuse with either an adjacent host or parasite cell, with the parasite-conjunctor cell PC becoming either a host-parasite or parasite-parasite secondary PC. Occasionally the conjunctor cell does not fuse with an adjacent cell (either host or parasite) and degenerates. The secondary pit plug which forms between a parasite cell and its conjunctor cell always develops with two structurally distinct surfaces characteristic of a host-parasite pit plug. Only if the conjunctor cell fuses with another parasite cell will the structure of the pit plug be altered to that of a parasite-parasite pit plug. Fungal hyphae also invade the region of infection, andHarveyella cells respond by producing nonfunctional conjunctor cells that grow towards adjacent hyphae. Evidence suggests that secondary PCs may be induced to form mechanically, by the physical presence of another cell, rather than in direct response to a message received from an adjacent cell. The mechanism of secondary PC formation described here is similar to that reported for the closely related alloparasiteHolmsella and may be common to a number of red algal parasitic associations. Helen Margaret Quirk, B. Sc. (Hons), M. Sc. (1953–1982), student, research assistant and friend, died after a long illness on October 24, 1982.     

THE MORPHOLOGY OF CUBICULOSPORUM KORONICARPIS GEN. ET SP. NOV., REPRESENTING A NEW FAMILY IN THE GIGARTINALES (RHODOPHYTA)

The red alga Cubiculosporum koronicarpis gen. et sp. nov. is described from material collected during 1968 in the Philippines. The species differs substantially in regard to its carposporophyte development from other red algae in the order Gigartinales, and a new family is created based on its unique combination of reproductive features. A single, short, connecting filament is formed between the fertilized carpogonium and a nearby auxiliary cell. The latter produces several ramifying gonimoblast filaments towards the interior of the thallus. No fusion cell is formed and the gonimoblast filaments grow inward among the cells of the central axis, form secondary connections to them, and give rise to outwardly directed carposporangial filaments that develop within peripheral chambers formed between elongating inner cortical cells. The alga is a low, clump-forming species of well-washed intertidal reef platforms at the one Philippine locality where it has been found. There it contributed a uniform but very minor amount to the wet weight of the standing crops that were studied during two separate seasons of the year.     

Three-dimensional organization and dynamic changes of the actin cytoskeleton in embryo sacs ofZea mays andTorenia fournieri

Summary Actin organization was observed inm-maleimidobenzoic acid N-hydroxysuccinimide ester(MBS)-treated maize embryo sacs by confocal laser scanning microscopy. The results revealed that dynamic changes of actin occur not only in the degenerating synergid, but also in the egg during fertilization. The actin filaments distribute randomly in the chalazal part of the synergid before fertilization; they later become organized into numerous aggregates in the chalazal end after pollination. The accumulation of actin at this region is intensified after the pollen tube discharges its contents. Concurrently, actin patches have also been found in the cytoplasm of the egg cell and later they accumulate in the cortical region. To compare with MBS-treated maize embryo sacs, we have performed phalloidin microinjection to label the actin cytoskeleton in living embryo sacs ofTorenia fournieri. The results have extended the previous observations on the three-dimensional organization of the actin arrays in the cells of the female germ unit and confirm the occurrence of the actin coronas in the embryo sac during fertilization. We have found that there is an actin cap occurring near the filiform apparatus after anthesis. In addition, phalloidin microinjection into the Torenia embryo sac has proved the presence of intercellular actin between the cells of the female germ unit and thus confirms the occurrence of the actin coronas in the embryo sac during fertilization. Moreover, actin dynamic changes also take place in the egg and the central cell, accomplished with the interaction between the male and female gametes. The actin filaments initially organize into a distinct actin network in the cortex of the central cell after anthesis; they become fragmented in the micropylar end of the cell after pollination. Similar to maize, actin patches have also been observed in the egg cortex after pollination. This is the first report of actin dynamics in the living embryo sac. The results suggest that the actin cytoskeleton may play an essential role in the reception of the pollen tube, migration of the male gametes, and even gametic fusion.