Morphology of Eunotia multiplastidica sp. nov. (Bacillariophyceae) Examined throughout the Life Cycle

Algae > Volume 7(1); 1992 > Article

Algae 1992;7(1): 45-54.

Shigeki Mayama

Department of Biology, Tokyo Gakugei University Koganei-shi

ABSTRACT

A moss diatom, Eunotia multiplastidica was newly described from Ehime Pref, Japan. This species is peculiar among the Eunotia species because of its possession of many discoid chloroplasts in a protoplast. In culture, sexual reproduction occurred and the elongated initial cells and the post-initial cells were collected. The detailed observation of the inital valve was carried out using SEM and, simultaneously, a comparative morphology examining vegetative valves both before and after sexual reproduction was also done. Though the initial valve was rounded in cross section, it shared many structures with the vegetative valves. The stable characteristics in the vegetative valves throughout the life cycle were the location of the pattern center and raphe, the striae density, the structure of the areola, the areola density, the number and location of the labiate process and the epitheca depth.

Key words: diatom, Eunotia, fine structure, initial valve, life cycle, taxonomy