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Environmental effects on the structure of the blue-green alga, Chlorogloea fritschii

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Summary

A study was made on the morphology and ultrastructure of Chlorogloea fritschii at different growth stages and under various environmental conditions. The environmental effects tested were a comparison of various light intensities, and the use of media, one with, and one without, a source of combined nitrogen. Both filamentous and endospore stages have the general ultrastructural features typical of a blue-green alga.

The most marked differences found were in the arrangement of lamellae. These run parallel to the cell wall in young filaments, particularly in those grown at low light intensities. At the endospore stage these are much more scattered in arrangement.

Two striking variations in this pattern were found. One cell type, possibly a spore, showed, along with other interesting features, marked reticulation of the lamellae. Material subcultured in the dark with sucrose for 3 years had the lamellae scattered throughout the cell.

Differences were found also in the abundance of α-granules (probable polyglucoside bodies). These differences could to a certain extent be correlated with the growth conditions used.

A brief comparison of Chlorogloea with other blue-green algae is included. Based on this, tentative hypotheses are presented concerning correlations between ultrastructural features and taxonomic groupings.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, University of Durham, England

    A. Peat & B. A. Whitton

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  1. A. Peat
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  2. B. A. Whitton
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Peat, A., Whitton, B.A. Environmental effects on the structure of the blue-green alga, Chlorogloea fritschii . Archiv. Mikrobiol. 57, 155–180 (1967). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00408699

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00408699

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