Academic literature on the topic 'Gametangia'

Sexuality is most often preserved in Sphagnum while asexual reproduction remains responsible for the perennity and multiplication of the species. Sexual reproduction success was assessed for two diecious species and four monecious – polyecious species, using fertilization rates, reproduction rates, and success of the reproduction. The effects of different crossing processes on the preceding parameters were emphasized. Accordingly, gynoecium numbers, archegone numbers per gynoecium, and sporogonia occurrences were assessed in more than 3500 capitula. Variable distribution of gametangia within capitula in different species determines the success of sexual reproduction. An evolutionary interpretation of this variation in the distribution of gametangia is proposed. Key words: Sphagnum, crossing processes, polyecious, sexualization rates, reproduction success. [Journal translation]

Eight species of Dilophus are recognised for Australia. Detailed descriptions are given for five species, D. fastigiatus, D. gunnianus, D. intermedius, D. marginatus and D. robustus. D. moniliformis and D. crinitus from Western Australia and D. decumbens from subantarctic Macquarie I. remain poorly known. Sporophytes and gametophytes are reported for the five species providing first records of sporophytes of D. robustus, female gametophytes of D. intermedius, and both male and female gametophytes of D. robustus and D. marginatus. The arrangement and structure of sporangia and gametangia have been intensively studied and many reproductive characters not previously used in species discrimination have been incorporated into species' descriptions and used to develop species' concepts. Species are delimited on the following combination of characters: arrangement, size and structure of sporangia, arrangement and structure of gametangia, and the number of medullary cell layers.

The gametophytic generation of Amblovenatum immersum and Christella subpubescens (Thelypteridaceae), including spore germination, morphological development of the gametophytes, major vegetative features and reproduction strategies, was studied. For both species, the spore germination was of the Vittaria type and the developmental pattern was of the Drynaria type. Adult gametophytes were cordate and hairy, with unicellular and secretory hairs located in the margins and both the ventral and dorsal surfaces of the prothalli. C. subpubescens has another type of acicular hairs only in the margin of the prothallus. Gametangia were of the normal type described for leptosporangiate ferns. In A. immersum all the gametophytes were female. In C. subpubescens the gametophytes produced at first instance female gametangia and then became bisexual with time. Antheridiogen activity was observed in both species, suggested by the presence of small young ameristic gametophytes with antheridia surrounding well-developed female ones.

Sexual reproduction and the life cycle of the marine pennate diatom Entomoneis cf. paludosa are described. The reproduction in this species is characterized by morphological and behavioral isogamy. Two gametangia are involved in the sexual process, each of which produces two gametes.

A comparative analysis is presented of the spore morphology, germination pattern, and prothallial development of the sexual phase of seven species in the fern genus Phanerophlebia C. Presl. Gametophyte development was studied from samples grown both on agar and soil. Spores are monolete, ellipsoid, with light brown to dark brown perine; the germination pattern is Vittaria-type and the prothallial development is Aspidium-type in all of the species. The gametangia are of the type typical for leptosporangiate ferns. Gametophytes of all species initially become female, then bisexual. Differences among species include spore germination time (6–12 days), shape of the gametophytes (spatulate–cordiform to cordiform–reniform, with smooth to very irregular margins), development time of trichomes (12–24 days), and appearance of gametangia (40–200 days). Some species develop the first leaves of the sporophytes after 200 days. Results are contrasted with previously published reports on gametophyte development in Arachniodes Blume, Cyrtomium C. Presl, Didymochlaena Desv., Dryopteris Adans, Olfersia Raddi, Polystichum Roth, and Stigmatopteris C. Chr.Key words: Dryopteridaceae, fern gametophyte, Mexico, morphogenesis, Phanerophlebia, sexual phase.

Abstract Controlling the life cycle of the green macroalga Ulva (Chlorophyta) is essential to maintain its efficient aquaculture. A fundamental shift in cultivation occurs by transforming the thallus cells into gametangia and sporangia (sporulation), with the subsequent release of gametes and zoids. Sporulation occurrence depends on algal age and abiotic stimuli and is controlled by sporulation inhibitors. Thus, quantification of sporulation intensity is critical for identifying the biotic and abiotic factors that influence the transition to reproductive growth. Here, we propose to determine the sporulation index by measuring the number of released gametes using flow cytometry, in proportion to the total number of thallus cells present before the occurrence of the sporulation event. The flow cytometric measurements were validated by manually counting the number of released gametes. We observed a variation in the autofluorescence levels of the gametes which were released from the gametangia. High autofluorescence level correlated to phototactically active behaviour of the gametes. As autofluorescence levels varied between different groups of gametes related to their mobility, flow cytometry can also determine the physiological status of the gametes used as feedstock in seaweed cultivation.

Morphologically interesting charophytes were found from Chapai-Nawabgonj and Rajshahi districts in Bangladesh. These are: swollen branchlet of Lamprothamnium papulosum (Wallr.) J. Groves, long stalked gametangia and twin antheridia of Nitella hyalina (DC.) Agardh, bifid bract cells of Chara flaccida A. Braun and bifid end cell of Nitellopsis obtusa (Desv.) J. Groves. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jles.v7i0.20124 J. Life Earth Sci., Vol. 7: 71-77, 2012

Noteroclada confluens Taylor ex Hook. & Wilson é uma hepática de aparência folhosa, pertencente à família Pelliaceae (Marchantiophyta). Ocorre predominantemente em regiões montanhosas, declives e locais próximos à córregos, em solos argilosos. O presente estudo teve por objetivo descrever a morfologia, anatomia e histoquímica das estruturas do gametófito e esporófito de N. confluens, coletados no estado do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil, sob microscopia óptica, eletrônica de varredura e confocal de varredura a laser fornecendo, especialmente, dados sobre as estruturas relacionadas com a reprodução sexuada e assexuada, contribuindo para uma melhor caracterização do gênero e da família. O gametófito de N. confluens apresenta-se na forma de um talo profundamente lobado, com lobos predominantemente com uma única camada de células. Os lobos são conectados a região mediana, mais espessada, rica em grãos de amido. Na região mediana ventral do gametófito, conectam-se inúmeros rizoides unicelulares. Todo o talo é constituído por um parênquima formado por células de paredes delgadas, de constituição pectocelulósica, sem espessamentos angulares. Cada célula apresenta um único e grande vacúolo e diversos oleocorpos. Os oleocorpos formam grupos de corpos esféricos ou ovalados, constituídos por sesquiterpenoides. Pigmentos flavonóides foram encontrados constituindo as paredes de algumas células do talo. A partir da face ventral, podem emergir tubers de formato arredondados, com um parênquima contendo grãos de amido, funcionando como um órgão armazenador de substâncias de reserva. Nas coletas realizadas no Rio Grande do Sul, foram identificados dois morfotipos: morfotipo 1, com poucos oleocorpos por célula e sem tubers; morfotipo 2, com muitos olecorpos por célula e presença de tubers. Os gametângios estão distribuídos em fileiras na região mediana, na face dorsal, sendo normalmente duas fileiras, de anterídios, e uma, de arquegônios. Os arquegônios apresentam um material polissacarídico na região do canal do ventre, o que pode facilitar a entrada dos anterozoides. Os anterídios são pedunculados e ovais, apresentam uma única camada de células estéreis protetora e estão inclusos, individualmente, em uma câmara anteridial, com poro apical. Após a fecundação da oosfera, forma-se um esporófito que permanece circundado pela caliptra e pelo celocaule, até a maturação dos esporos. O esporófito é formado pela cápsula, seta e pé. A parede da cápsula é biestratificada e apresenta espessamentos angulares na epiderme e anelares ou helicoidais, no estrato interno ou subepidérmico. Na base da cápsula, ocorre formação de um denso elateróforo. A cápsula se abre através de quatro fendas longitudinais de deiscência, os estômios, as quais resultam na formação de quatro valvas. A seta é cilíndrica, hialina e levemente estriada, apresentando grãos de amido nas células parenquimáticas da região cortical e epiderme. A elevação ocorre por expansão celular. O pé tem formato de “taça” e apresenta diversos grãos de amido. Na junção gametófitoesporófito (placenta) ocorre um espaço placental. Não foram encontradas células de tranferência na zona da placenta, tanto no gametófito como no esporófito. O tecido esporogênico apresenta células com paredes pectocelulósicas delgadas, a partir do qual se diferenciam dois tipos celulares: os esporócitos, arredondados e com uma parede espessada hialina, e os elaterócitos, mais alongados e com parede espessada de natureza péctica. As células- mãe de esporos são tetralobadas e se individualizam. Nesse estádio apresentam uma parede espessada mais delgada e de natureza hemicelulósica. A meiose leva à formação de quatro esporos unicelulares. Ao redor de cada esporo, deposita-se uma delgada primexina. O desenvolvimento dos esporos é endospórico, e os protonemas jovens, envolvidos ainda pela esporoderme, são esferoidais ou subesferoidais, com células de paredes pectocelulósicas delgadas, muitas vezes repletas de grãos de amido. A esporoderme está estratificada em uma intina, de composição pectocelulósica, e uma exina, impregnada constituída por esporopolenina. A exina forma uma escultura do tipo rugulada. Os elatérios morrem na maturidade e apresentam de duas a três bandas de espessamentos helicoidais, de pigmentação amarronzada e natureza fenólica e polissacarídica. Na exina, a esporoderme apresenta uma região de escultura reduzida.
Noteroclada confluens Taylor ex Hook. & Wilson is a liverwort with a leafy appearance which belongs to the Pelliaceae (Marchantiophyta) family. This species occurs mostly in mountainous regions, descending slopes and places near streams. In this study, the morphology, anatomy and histochemistry of the structures of the gametophyte and sporophyte of N. confluens are described. This species was collected in Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. The study in light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning provides, especially, data about structures related to sexual and asexual reproduction, contributing to a better understanding of the genus and family. The gametophyte of N. confluens presents a form of a deeply lobed stem, the lobes predominantly with a single layer of cells. The lobes are connected to a central region, denser, rich in starch grains. Numerous unicellular rhizoids are connected in the ventral surface of the central region. The entire stem is composed by a parenchyma formed by thin-walled pectin and cellulose cells, with no angular thickening. Each cell has a single large vacuole and several oil bodies. The oil bodies form groups of spherical or oval bodies and present sesquiterpenes in its constitution. Flavonoid pigments were found forming the walls of some cells of the stem. In this ventral surface, round shaped tubers may emerge with a parenchyma containing starch grains, acting as a storage organ for substances. Two morphotypes were identified in a collection in Rio Grande do Sul: morphotype 1, with few oil bodies per cell and without tubers; and morphotype 2, with many oil bodies per cell and the presence of tubers. The gametangia are distributed in rows in the central region on the dorsal surface. Usually there are two rows of antheridia and one of archegonia. The archegonia have a polysaccharide material in the channel region of the venter, which may facilitate the entry of antherozoid. The antheridia are stalked and oval. They have a single protective layer of sterile cells and are included individually in a single antheridial chamber, with apical ostiole. After the fertilization of the egg cell, there is the formation of a sporophyte that remains surrounded by calyptra and the caulocalyx until the maturation of the spores. The sporophyte is formed by the capsule, seta and foot. The capsule wall has two layers of cells and presents angular thickening in the epidermis and annular or helical thickening in the internal layer. At the base of the capsule there is a formation of a dense elaterophore. The capsule opens in four longitudinal dehiscence cracks, the stomion, which result in the formation of four valves. The seta is cylindrical, hyaline, slightly striated, showing starch grains in parenchyma cells of the cortical region and epidermis. The increase happens by cell expansion. The foot is cup-shaped and it presents several starch grains. In the gametophyte-sporophyte junction (placenta) there is a placental space. Both gametophyte and sporophyte.do no present transfer cells in the placenta. The sporogenic tissue has cells with pectin and cellulose walls, which are differentiated in two types: the sporocytes, rounded with a thick hyaline wall, and the elaterocytes, more elongated and presenting a wall of pectin. The spore mother cells are tetralobed and become individualized. On this stage, they have a thinner thickened wall cell and it is made of hemicelluloses. After meiosis, four unicellulars spores are formed. Around each spore a thin primexina is deposited. The spore development is endosporic and the young protonemas are spheroidal and still involved by sporoderm. The cells of young protonema have thin cell walls with pectin and cellulose, often presenting many starch grains. The sporoderm presents an intine with pectin and cellulose composition, and an exine, consisting of impregnated esporopolenina. The exine sculpture is rugulate. The elaters die at maturity and have two or three bands of spiral thickening, which have brown pigmentation and a phenolic and polysaccharide composition. the exine, the sporoderm presents a region of small sculpture.

Magister Scientiae (Biodiversity and Conservation Biology)
To further investigate the strength of the association and the relative advantages of the association to both organisms, several manipulation experiments were set up. A cage experiment set up in the shallow subtidal zone showed that the coralline survived equally well without the winkle and did therefore not require the winkle or its empty shell for survival. A second controlled laboratory aquarium experiment was designed under both fluorescent (rich in blue light) and incandescent light (rich in red light) to ascertain whether the coralline had a preference for O. sinensis over the similar O. tigrina. This experiment was inconclusive as no recruitment was obtained under either of the light regimes. A third laboratory experiment was designed to determine whether the extra coralline weight had any possible advantage to the winkle, particularly against predation from the rock lobster Jasus lalandii. Results suggested that there were no apparent advantages to the winkle bearing the extra coralline load as adult O. sinensis bearing the coralline alga (3.7 ± 2.2 winkles 24hr-1) were equally prone to predation than those lacking the coralline (2.3 ± 1.9 winkles 24hr-1) (p = 0.184). Observations suggested instead that the convoluted nature of the coralline may indeed have promoted predation. We ultimately deduced that the high occurrence of the coralline on the shells of O. sinensis was probably due to the substantial overlap in the niches of the two organisms. This conclusion was supported by the high densities of juvenile O. sinensis combined with the high percent cover abundance of the coralline in intertidal rockpools. Understanding sexual reproduction in coralline algae as well as the life cycle of the winkle, ultimately provided insight into the postulated life cycle of this coralline-winkle association.
South Africa

To further investigate the strength of the association and the relative advantages of the association to both organisms, several manipulation experiments were set up. A cage experiment set up in the shallow subtidal zone showed that the coralline survived equally well without the winkle and did therefore not require the winkle or its empty shell for survival. A second controlled laboratory aquarium experiment was designed under both fluorescent (rich in blue light) and incandescent light (rich in red light) to ascertain whether the coralline had a preference for O. sinensis over the similar O. tigrina. This experiment was inconclusive as no recruitment was obtained under either of the light regimes. A third laboratory experiment was designed to determine whether the extra coralline weight had any possible advantage to the winkle, particularly against predation from the rock lobster Jasus lalandii. Results suggested that there were no apparent advantages to the winkle bearing the extra coralline load as adult O. sinensis bearing the coralline alga (3.7 ±
2.2 winkles 24hr-1) were equally prone to predation than those lacking the coralline (2.3 ±
1.9 winkles 24hr-1) (p = 0.184). Observations suggested instead that the convoluted nature of the coralline may indeed have promoted predation. We ultimately deduced that the high occurrence of the coralline on the shells of O. sinensis was probably due to the substantial overlap in the niches of the two organisms. This conclusion was supported by the high densities of juvenile O. sinensis combined with the high percent cover abundance of the coralline in intertidal rockpools. Understanding sexual reproduction in coralline algae as well as the life cycle of the winkle, ultimately provided insight into the postulated life cycle of this coralline-winkle association...