The ultrastructure of mitosis during sporangiogenesis inWoronina pythii (Plasmodiophoromycetes)

Abstract

Mitotic divisions during sporangiogenous plasmodial cleavage inWoronina pythii were studied with transmission electron microscopy. We conclude that these nuclear divisions (e.g., transitional nuclear division, and sporangial mitoses) share basic similarities with the cruciform nuclear divisions inW. pythii and other plasmo-diophoraceous taxa. The major distinction appeared to be the absence of nucleoli during sporangial mitosis and the presence of nucleoli during cruciform nuclear division. The similarities were especially evident with regard to nuclear envelope breakdown and reformation. The mitotic divisions during formation of sporangia were centric, and closed with polar fenestrae, and characterized by the formation of intranuclear membranous vesicles. During metaphase, anaphase, and telophase, these vesicles appeard to bleb from the inner membrane of the original nuclear envelope and appeared to coalesce on the surface of the separating chromatin masses. By late telophase, the formation of new daughter nuclear envelopes was complete, and original nuclear envelope was fragmented. New observation pertinent to the mechanisms of mitosis in thePlasmodiophoromycetes include a evidence for the incorporation of membrane fragments of the original nuclear envelope into new daughter nuclear envelopes, and b the change in orientation of paired centrioles during sporangial mitosis.