Algae. 1998; 13(3): 323-329.

Light and Electron Microscope Studies on Lobophora variegata (Lamouroux) Womersley ex Oliveira (Dictyotales, Phaeophyta)

Inderdeep Kaur, Sunita Kumari

Department of Botany, University of Delhi

The plants of Lobophora variegata (Lamouroux) Womersley ex Oliveira are small, flat, fan-shaped and lobed at maturity. Growth of the plant occurs by means of a series of marginal initials resulting in a thallus composed of three tissues: epidermis, cortex and medulla. The walls of all cell types show a mixture of carboxylated and sulphated polysaccharides whereas the cytoplasm reveals differential distribution of physodes, vacuoles, proteins, polysaccharides and plastids. The tetrasporangia occur in groups and the associated hairs are absent. The present taxonomic status of Lobophora variegata, which had earlier been placed under the genus Dictyota is pointed out with reasonable certainty. The elucidation of asexual and sexual reproduction will provide further evidence of taxonomic status of Lobophora.

Keywords : Dictyotales, epidermis, Lobophora variegata, medulla, meristem, morphology, ultrastructure