THE BIOLOGY OF HARVEYELLA MIRABILIS (CRYPTONEMIALES; RHODOPHYCEAE). V. HOST RESPONSES FO PARASITE INFECTION1,2

The thallus of Harveyella mirabilis (Reinsch) Schmitz & Reinke is composed of vegetative rhizoidal cells growing intrusively between adjacent cells of the red algal hosts (Odonthalia and Rhodomela) and a protruding reproductive pustule. Although primarily composed of Harveyella cells, host medullary and cortical cells also occur in the emergent pustule. In both tissue regions, Harveyella cells are connected to host cells by secondary pit connections initiated by the host. Direct penetration of host cells by rhizoidal cells of Harveyella occasionally occurs, resulting in host cell death. Degeneration of host medullary cells beneath the pustule may result in a hollow branch and the cortical cells undergo cell division forming a thick palisade layer of randomly associated, photo-synthetically active cells. It is within these branches that the parasite overwinters vegetatively. Host medullary and cortical cells dispersed in the emergent pustule show few of the degenerative responses noted in host cells adjacent to parasite rhizoidal cells. Rather, host cell division, chloroplast division and photosynthetic assimilation of H¹⁴CO^?₃ all increase. Spherical virus-like solitary bodies (S-bodies) occur in all Harveyella cells and in all host cells attached to Harveyella by secondary pit connections. The possibility that these structures may induce the infective response in the host is discussed.