A sexual life history in Rhodophysema (Rhodophyceae): a re-interpretation

摘要: Abstract Previous studies of field collected and cultured plants Rhodophysema from different localities have demonstrated the existence tetrasporangial male plants, whereas female were apparently absent. Re-investigation R. elegans California in culture indicates that structures on crusts previously interpreted as ‘hair cells’ are carpogonia. The fertilized carpogonium (zygote) divides into a stalk cell (tetrasporangial mother cell) tetrasporangium. contents sporangium to produce four tetraspores, produces successive tetrasporangia. A carposporophyte is lacking. vegetative tissue crust not sporophytic, supposed, but gametophytic, with spermatia carpogonia produced same crust. This life history most reduced all those known sexually reproducing red algae. position carpogonium—terminal filament rather than specialized branch—and pr...