Experimental Studies on Sexual Reproduction in Diatoms

摘要: The diatoms are the most speciose group of algae, having global ecological significance in carbon and silicon cycles. They almost unique among algae being diplontic, sexual reproduction is an obligate stage life cycle diatom species. It unclear which principal factors that have fostered evolutionary success diatoms, but (which correlated with a curious wall structure cell division mechanism) size-dependent control sexuality must played important part. Progress understanding dynamics their interrelationships population biology evolution will depend on how successfully sex can be initiated manipulated experimentally, our review provides foundation for such work. Relevant data scattered time come mostly from non-English publications, producing false impression as recalcitrant respect to sexualization. Recent advances dependent experimental cultures include discovery widespread heterothallism (including some complex types behavior) pennate diversity clones centric more flexible size restitution strategies than had been suspected, use reproductive isolation criterion taxonomy. We identify unsolved problems history including aspects sexualization, cell-cell recognition, reproduction, development special expanding (the auxospore), crucial morphogenesis this group. Some these addressed using modern molecular genetic tools, progress facilitated when whole-genome sequences published (e.g., Thalassiosira pseudonana). Problems culture maintenance methods manipulating discussed.