Conjugation processes of Penium margaritaceum (Zygnemophyceae, Charophyta)

SUMMARY Detailed conjugation processes in Penium, a unicellular conjugating green alga, are described for the first time. A homothallic strain of Penium margaritaceum (Ehrenb.) Bréb. (Designation, izu84‐10) was isolated from a rice paddy field in Japan. The species was identified based on its morpho...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Phycological research 2011-01, Vol.59 (1), p.74-82
Main Authors: Tsuchikane, Yuki, Tsuchiya, Miki, Kokubun, Yume, Abe, Jun, Sekimoto, Hiroyuki
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Charophyta
conjugation
homothallic
homothallism
Penium
Penium margaritaceum
selfing conjugation
sexual reproduction
Zygnemophyceae
zygospore
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Summary:SUMMARY Detailed conjugation processes in Penium, a unicellular conjugating green alga, are described for the first time. A homothallic strain of Penium margaritaceum (Ehrenb.) Bréb. (Designation, izu84‐10) was isolated from a rice paddy field in Japan. The species was identified based on its morphology, and a molecular phylogeny confirmed that izu84‐10 was closely related to another identified strain of this species. Using time‐lapse photography, the conjugation processes in P. margaritaceum were observed and then categorized into the following six stages: (1) cell division, resulting in the formation of two sister gametangial cells from one vegetative cell; (2) formation of a sexual pair between the two sister gametangial cells (or between gametangial cells of another nearby individual); (3) formation of conjugation papillae by elongation of the cell wall; (4) release of a gamete from one of the pair members; (5) release of a gamete from the other pair member; and (6) formation of the zygospore by gamete fusion. By alcian blue staining, possible involvement of mucilage to facilitate this cell adhesion and cell–cell communication was suggested.
ISSN:1322-0829
1440-1835
DOI:10.1111/j.1440-1835.2010.00602.x