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A light and electron microscopic study of the quadriflagellate green algaSpermatozopsis exsultans

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Abstract

The green flagellateSpermatozopsis exsultans Korshikov has been studied in culture by light and electron microscopy. The organism is naked, bears four flagella and is conspicuously spirally twisted. The ultrastructure and location of cell organelles (except the flagellar apparatus) has been investigated in detail using an absolute configuration analysis. With the exception of a doubling of the flagella and of the secondary cytoskeletal microtubule system,S. exsultans has the exact same complement of organelles occupying the same relative positions as has been described forS. similis. The two species are therefore correctly placed in the same genus. The usefulness of absolute orientations of cell organelles for green algal taxonomy and phylogeny is stressed.

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Dedicated to Prof.M. Mix on the occasion of her 60th birthday.

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Melkonian, M., McFadden, G.I., Reize, I.B. et al. A light and electron microscopic study of the quadriflagellate green algaSpermatozopsis exsultans . Pl Syst Evol 158, 47–61 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00936144

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00936144

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