Research note: Induction of gamete discharge by hypertonic treatment in the green alga Bryopsis plumosa (Caulerpales, Chlorophyta)

SUMMARY Brief treatment with hypertonic solutions induced gamete discharge from gametangia in the coenocytic green alga Bryopsis plumosa (Hudson) C. Agardh. It is known that gamete discharge in this alga is triggered by a change from darkness to light. However, in this study mature gametangia, incub...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Phycological research 2011-01, Vol.59 (1), p.70-73
Main Authors: Mine, Ichiro, Ozaki, Chie, Sekida, Satoko, Okuda, Kazuo
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bryopsis plumosa
Caulerpales
Chlorophyta
coenocyte
gametangium
hypertonic treatment
light irradiation
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Summary:SUMMARY Brief treatment with hypertonic solutions induced gamete discharge from gametangia in the coenocytic green alga Bryopsis plumosa (Hudson) C. Agardh. It is known that gamete discharge in this alga is triggered by a change from darkness to light. However, in this study mature gametangia, incubated for 30–120 s in artificial seawater (ASW) with an additional 0.4–0.6 M NaCl and then transferred into pure ASW, discharged gametes in darkness. The treatment did not affect the motility of the gametes. Addition of sucrose (1.0–1.2 M) to ASW also induced gamete discharge in darkness. Similar results were obtained by adding KCl (0.4 M) or mannitol (1.2 M) to ASW. Continuous incubation of gametangia in such hypertonic solutions also induced gamete discharge but led to a delay and a reduction in the rate of gamete discharge, and a loss of gamete motility. In gametangia treated with the hypertonic solutions, as well as in those exposed to light, shortening of the gametangial length was observed before gamete discharge.
ISSN:1322-0829
1440-1835
DOI:10.1111/j.1440-1835.2010.00601.x