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Spermatozoid life-span of two brown seaweeds, Saccharina japonica and Undaria pinnatifida, as measured by fertilization efficiency

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Abstract

During sexual reproduction of seaweeds, spermatozoid (sperm) discharge is triggered by chemical messengers (pheromones) released by the female gametes. The chemotactic ability of the sperm ensures fertilization success. Using unialgal male and female gametophyte material under designated standard gametogenesis testing (SGT) conditions, the potential life-span of the sperm of two seaweeds, Saccharina japonica and Undaria pinnatifida, was assessed by their ability to fertilize eggs. Results show that within 20-30 min after being discharged, sperm of both species could complete fertilization without an apparent decline in fertilization rate. Although fertilization rate 60–120 min after sperm discharge dropped significantly in both species, some sperm were viable enough to fertilize the eggs. In S. japonica, at 12°C, some sperm were able to fertilize eggs up to 12 h after discharge. In both species, egg discharge rates (EDR) in the male and female mixed positive controls were significantly higher than those of all the sperm-testing groups. Doubling the seeded male gametophytes of S. japonica in the SGT tests significantly increased the EDR, further confirming the effect of the presence of the male on the female in terms of facilitating egg discharge from oogonia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, China

    Jing Li  (李静), Shaojun Pang  (逄少军), Feng Liu  (刘峰), Tifeng Shan  (单体锋) & Suqin Gao  (高素芹)

  2. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    Jing Li  (李静)

Authors
  1. Jing Li  (李静)
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  2. Shaojun Pang  (逄少军)
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  3. Feng Liu  (刘峰)
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  4. Tifeng Shan  (单体锋)
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  5. Suqin Gao  (高素芹)
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shaojun Pang  (逄少军).

Additional information

Supported by National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (863 Program)(No.2012AA10A413), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 41206146, 41176135, 41206142), the National Special Research Fund for Non-Profit Sector (Agriculture) from the Ministry of Agriculture (No. 200903030), the Knowledge Innovation Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences (No. KSCX2-EW-B-3), the National Key Basic Program of Science and Technology-Platforms of Aquaculture Stock Resources, and the Leading Academic Discipline Project of the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission (No. J50701)

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Li, J., Pang, S., Liu, F. et al. Spermatozoid life-span of two brown seaweeds, Saccharina japonica and Undaria pinnatifida, as measured by fertilization efficiency. Chin. J. Ocean. Limnol. 31, 774–781 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00343-013-2207-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00343-013-2207-y

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