CULTURE STUDIES ON THE MARINE GREEN ALGA HALICYSTIS PARVULA-DERBESIA TENUISSIMA. III. CONTROL OF GAMETE FORMATION BY...

Evidence is presented for an endogenous rhythm which controls gamete formation in the coenocytic gametophytic stage of the marine alga Derbesia tenuissima (De Notaris) Crouan fr. (Chlorophyceae), formerly known as Halicystis parvula. The rhythm is present under conditions of constant light and temperature, or in alternating light and darkness (LD 12 :12 or LD 8 : 8). Under controlled conditions in the laboratory, the basic period of this rhythm is 4-5 days. The period is affected very little by temperature or light intensity. Gametangia may appear only at every other cycle of the underlying rhythm at approximately 8-day intervals, or even every third cycle at intervals of about 12 days. The observation that the interval between the appearance of new gametangia does not vary continuously when light or temperature is varied but tends to be a multiple of 4 days is the strongest evidence available that a true endogenous rhythm with a period of about 4 days is present in Derbesia. Evidence is presented that circadian rhythmicity does not play a part in the timing of the initiation of gametangia in this organism.