ULTRASTRUCTURE OF THE CARPOSPOROPHYTE AND CARPOSPOROGENESIS IN THE PARASITIC RED ALGA PLOCAMIOCOLAX PULVINATA SETCH, (GIGARTINALES, PLOCAMIACEAE)

The ultrastructure of the carposporophyte and carposporogenesis is described for the parasitic red alga P. pulvinata . After presumed fertilization the zygote nucleus is apparently transferred to the auxiliary cell which initiates gonimoblast cell production. These gonimoblast cells differentiate into storage or generative cells. Storage gonimoblast cells (SGC) are large and multinucleate, contain large quantities of starch and are located nearest the auxiliary cell, when compared to the smaller uninucleate, devoid of starch, generative gonimoblast cells (GGC) that form terminal lobes of carpospores. In addition, compressed membrane bodies and annulate lamellae are common in these cells. During carposporophyte maturation the amount of starch in the SGC's decreases and eventually the auxiliary cell, as well as SGC's, degenerate.