| Abstract: | A clonal isolate of Chrysodidymus synuroideus Prowse was derived form a Sphagnum bog in northern Wisconsin and maintained in culture for over 3 years. Cultured colonies consisted almost exclusively of two cells attached at the posterior, each cell bearing two unequal flagella. Correlative light and electron microscopic observations revealed that colonies composed of smaller, ovate cells represented more recent products of cell division, while colonies of elongate cells were more mature. These results support previous taxonomic conclusions, based on light microscopic observations, of field-collected specimens and body scale ultrastructure, that Chrysodidymus is a valid genus, and that two species described by Prowse on the basis of cell size differences, should be merged. In addition, ultrastructural studies of cultured Chrysodidymus demonstrated that this genus is a member of the Synurophyceae on the basis of characters related to flagellar morphology, basal body arrangement, and cytoskeletal ultrastructure. Chrysodidymus synuroideus resembles Synura sphagnicola in body scale structure, the presence of distinctive linear or clavate scales on both flagella, a relatively loose scale case, and acidophilic habital, Unlike S. sphagnicola, Chrysodidymus has no Pyrennoids, Peripheral (rather than axial) plastids, and a single posterior storage vesicle (rather than two peripheral storage vesicles). |
