Summary
The cytological changes which accompany wounding and wound recovery in the coenocytic algaCaulerpa simpliciuscula have been studied using both light and electron microscopy. Within one minute of wounding, there are three responses.
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1.
The formation of a gelatinous plug on the surface of the wound. The material contributing to this external plug appears to be formed from vacuolar contents which undergo sol to gel transformation following extrusion under turgor pressure.
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2.
The formation of an internal wound plug of different composition to the external plug. Deposition of the internal wound plug continues for up to 11 hours following wounding. On the basis of staining reactions this material appears to be either a sulphated glycoprotein, or a mixture of protein and sulphated polysaccharide.
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3.
The retraction of cytoplasm away from the wound site, and the formation of a large number of vesicles between the cytoplasm and the surface of the internal wound plug. The formation of these vesicles appears to result from the re-organization of membrane components present in the unwounded cytoplasm into the surface membranes of the vesicle.
During the interval of 11 to 24 hours following wounding, there is a gradual extension of the retracted cytoplasm to the inner surface of the internal wound plug with a corresponding resorbtion of some of the vesiculate material. The synthesis of a new cell wall has begun by 11 hours, and is complete after 6 days.
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Dreher, T.W., Grant, B.R. & Wetherbee, R. The wound response in the siphonous algaCaulerpa simpliciuscula C. Ag.: Fine structure and cytology. Protoplasma 96, 189–203 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01279585
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01279585