ULTRASTRUCTURE OF CEPHALEUROS VIRESCENS (CHROOLEPIDACEAE; CHLOROPHYTA). II. GAMETES

Abstract

Transmission electron microscopic examination of Cephaleuros virescens Kunze growing on leaves of Camellia sp. indicates that gametes are similar to those of Trentepohlia aurea. The gametes bear two, smooth isokont “keeled” flagella containing typical “9 + 2” axonemes and lacking scales. Flagellar insertion is apical and the parallel basal bodies overlap laterally. Each basal body is associated with a separate multilayered structure and component microtubular spline. The latter extends posteriorly beneath the plasmalemma. A nucleus, mitochondria, chloroplasts, and cytoplasmic haematochrome droplets are present. Pyrenoids and eyespots are absent. The subcellular components of C. virescens gametes are comparable to those found in gametes of T. aurea; however, the arrangement of basal bodies and multilayered structures differs slightly from that in T. aurea. Comparison of the fine structure of gametes from Cephaleuros, Phycopeltis, and Trentepohlia clearly indicates that the (1) mode of flagellar insertion, (2) morphology, number, and arrangement of multilayered structures, and (3) keeled flagella are common to these three genera and, thus far, unique among the green algae. Although flagellar insertion is apical, it is not bilaterally symmetrical (sensu stricto), nor is it asymmetrical (cf. Chara and Nitella sperms). The arrangement may be termed “reversed bilateral symmetry” and standardization of the terminology is recommended.