Abstract
SummaryThe typical vegetative cell of the dinoflagellate Pyrocystis lunula is a non-motile, lunate shaped cell. Frequently the vegetative cell will differentiate into one or more Gymnodinium-like motile cells urithin the lunate cell wall. These motile cells have been previously been reported to emerge and swim free from the parent cell wall. The fate of these cells has not been previously determined. In cultures kept under constant fluorescent illumination at 550 f. c. and held at 15° C, uniflagellated gymnodinioid-cells are seen to settle and to rapidly differentiate into typical nonmotile, lunate vegetative cells. This process of asexual reproduction is distinct from simple mitosis as a means of increasing cell numbers. The possibility of the occurrence of sexual reproduction in P. lunula is discussed.
Published Version
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