Summary
New features recorded here for the first time include demonstration of the presence of a covering of tiny diamond shaped scales all over the body of the helical cell of the mature spermatozoids of Chara corallina Klein ex Willd. as well as a covering of slightly larger diamond shaped scales over the surfaces of the two flagella which has previously been seen by other authors in spermatozoids of both Chara and Nitella.
The arrangement of microtubules in the anterior end of the spermatozoid, as a layer completely surrounding the anterior row of mitochondria resembles that of Chara fibrosa described by Pickett-Heaps 1968 and differs from that described for Nitella missouriensis by Turner 1968; these details are therefore perhaps phyletically significant.
Other features such as the partial degeneration of the anteriorly placed flagellar bases are similar to those previously described for these two species although the distance between the bases and the point of emergence of the flagella from the body surface seems to differ somewhat from species to species.
The investigation includes observations on the dehiscence of the antheridia and on the emergence of living cells from the spermatogenous filaments.
The possible phyletic significance of some of these observations is discussed in a preliminary way.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Chadefaud, M.: Les cellules nageuses des Algues dans l'embranchement des Chlorophycées. C. R. Acad. Sci. (Paris) 231, 988–990 (1950).
McBride, G. E.: Ultrastructure of the Coleochaete scutata zoospore (Abstr.). J. Phycol. 4, Suppl., 6 (1968).
Moestrup, Ø.: On the fine structure of the spermatozoids of Vaucheria sescuplicaria and on the later stages in spermatogenesis. J. mar. biol. Ass. U. K. 50, 513–523 (1970).
Mottier, D. M.: The development of the spermatozoid in Chara. Ann. Bot. 18, 245–254 (1904).
Mühldorf, A.: Berichtigungen und Ergänzungen unserer Kenntnisse über die Morphologie und Histologie pflanzlicher Spermien. Biol. gen. 6, 457–482 (1930).
Paolillo, D. J., Jr, Kreitner, G. L., Reighard, J. A.: Spermatogenesis in Polytrichum juniperinum, II. Planta (Berl.) 78, 248–261 (1968).
Peebles, M. J., Mercer, F. V., Chambers, T. C.: Studies of the comparative physiology of Chara australis, I. Aust. J. biol. Sci. 17, 49–61 (1964).
Pickett-Heaps, J. D.: Ultrastructure and differenciation in Chara (fibrosa), IV. Spermatogenesis. Aust. J. biol. Sci. 21, 655–690 (1968).
Satô, S.: Electron microscopical studies on reproductive cells of plants, IV. Structure of spermatozoid of Chara braunii. Cytologia (Tokyo) 19, 329–335 (1954).
Thuret, G.: Recherches sur les zoospores des Algues et les anthéridies des Cryptogames, II. Ann. Sci. nat. (Bot.) III, 16, 5–39 (1851).
Turner, F. R.: An ultrastructural study of plant spermatogenesis. Spermatogenesis in Nitella. J. Cell Biol. 37, 370–393 (1968).
Wood, R. D., Imahori, K.: Monograph of the Characeae. Weinheim: Cramer 1965.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Moestrup, Ø. The fine structure of mature spermatozoids of Chara corallina, with special reference to microtubules and scales. Planta 93, 295–308 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00384103
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00384103