OBSERVATIONS ON THE FINE STRUCTURE OF OEDOGONIUM. II. THE SPERMATOZOID OF O. CARDIACUM

Hoffman , L. R., and Irene Manton . (U. Leeds, England.) Observations on the fine structure of Oedogonium. II. The spermatozoid of O. cardiacum. Amer. Jour. Bot. 50(5): 455–463. Illus. 1963.—Salient features of the fine structure of the spermatozoid of Oedogonium cardiacum are described and illustrated as they appear in whole mounts and in sections. There is a close resemblance to the zoospore of the same species (Hoffman and Manton, 1962) though the gamete is smaller and in some respects simpler. The flagella, though similar in length to those on the zoospore, are fewer (ca. 30 instead of ca. 120 per cell). The construction of the flagellar ring is similar though there is less mechanical material associated with the flagellar bases in the gamete. Compound “roots” alternating with the flagellar bases are identical in structure and relative position in both types of motile cells; there is no direct connection with the nucleus. Other details of resemblance and difference between the spermatozoid and the zoospore are discussed.