Life cycles Rhodophyta Flashcards
How do Rhodophyta cells reproduce?
- Asexually
- Some species sexually (isomorphic or heteromorphic diplohaplontic life cycle)
- Rhodophyta have a haplontic life cycle (most of the time haploid)
What characterizes an isomorphic or heteromorphic diplohaplontic life cycle in Rhodophyta?
In this life cycle, Rhodophyta alternates between diploid and haploid phases, where the diploid (2n) and haploid (n) phases may look similar (isomorphic) or different (heteromorphic).
What type of fusion characterizes sexual reproduction in Rhodophyta?
Oogamous fusion, where a large non-motile egg is fertilized by a small motile sperm.
What distinguishes the reproductive cells of Rhodophyta from other algae groups?
Rhodophyta reproductive cells, including male gametes, are non-flagellate spherical protoplasts.
What are the three phases involved in the complex life cycle of many Rhodophyta species? (triphasic or trigenetic)
- The three phases are gametophyte, carposporophyte, and tetrasporophyte.
- Gametophyte and tetrasporophyte are independent organisms, while the carposporophyte is implanted on the female gametophyte.
Gametophyte in Rhodophyta
- haploid
- produces non-flagellate gametes (reproduction by oogamy)
Carposporophyte in Rhodophyta
- diploid
- develops from the zygote on the female gametophyte
- produces diploid spores, carpospores
- The differences between the various groups of Florideophyceae are based on the differences in the formation of the carposporophyte
Tetrasporophyte
- diploid
- formed by the development of carpospores.
- Through meiosis it forms haploid spores, called tetraspores, which give rise to the gametophyte
- Polysiphonia species
- show the typical triphasic life cycle
What structures does the male gametophyte of Polysiphonia spp. produce?
The male gametophyte produces spermatangia, that form spermatia ( = male gametangia) on special fertile branches called trichoblasts.
Where do spermatangia develop in Polysiphonia spp.?
- They produce spermatia (non-flagellate gametes transported passively by water)
- And develop on fertile “side shoots” of the male gametophyte.
On middle picture:
1 = spermatangia
2 = spermatia
What structures does the female gametophyte of Polysiphonia spp. produce?
The female gametophyte produces carpogonial branches, with terminal cells called carpogonia, which act as female gametangia.
Describe the structure of a carpogonium in Polysiphonia spp.
A carpogonium consists of a swollen basal portion with a flask shape containing the female nucleus, along with a long sticky extension called a trichogyne, which captures spermatia.
Post-Fertilization Events: After a spermatium attaches itself to the trichogyne of the carpogonium in Polysiphonia spp., several events occur:
- Spermatium-Trichogyne Fusion
- Nucleus Migration
- Nuclei Fusion
What occurs after a spermatium attaches to the trichogyne in Polysiphonia spp.?
After attachment, the spermatium wall merges with the trichogyne wall
Describe the process of nucleus migration in Polysiphonia spp. after spermatium attachment.
the male nucleus from the spermatium migrates into the trichogyne and then into the carpogonium.
What is the process of nuclei fusion in Polysiphonia spp. after fertilization?
Inside the carpogonium, the male nucleus from the spermatium fuses with the female nucleus of the carpogonium, resulting in the formation of a zygote.
What initiates the carposporophyte generation in Polysiphonia spp. after fertilization?
- After fertilization, the carpogonium transfers the diploid zygote nucleus to an auxiliary cell
- marking the initiation of the carposporophyte generation
What structures are formed from the auxiliary cell in Polysiphonia spp. after fertilization?
- The auxiliary cell gives rise to a carposporophyte.
- Carposporophyte produces carpospores, as well as other protrusions that connect to secondary auxiliary cells
- This leads to the formation of additional carposporophytes and protrusions
What is the carposporophyte or gonimocarp in Polysiphonia spp.?
The carposporophyte or gonimocarp is a compact system of diploid branched filaments called gonimoblasts, consisting of diploid cells originating from the zygotic nucleus.
What surrounds the gonimocarp in Polysiphonia spp.?
- The gonimocarp in Polysiphonia spp. is surrounded by a tissue called the pericarp,
- providing protection and support to the developing structure.
What is the cystocarp in the life cycle of Polysiphonia spp.?
- The cystocarp is the mature reproductive structure formed by the combination of the gonimocarp (carposporophyte) and the surrounding pericarp tissue
- It contains the developing carpospores.
What marks the beginning of gonimoblast development in Polysiphonia spp.?
Gonimoblast initials (GI) are formed, as seen in picture 2 and 3, indicating the start of gonimoblast development.