VALVE ABNORMALITIES IN DIATOM CLONES MAINTAINED IN LONG-TERM CULTURE

Abstract

The valves of three diatom species (Achnanthes brevipes, Nitzschia palea and Synedra ulna) maintained in long-term culture were studied with scanning electron microscopy. Abnormalities observed included fragmented and duplicated raphe systems, disrupted orientation of areolae and fibulae, and obscure areolae. It is recommended that investigators use caution when reporting data based on work with long-established clones where metabolic and nutritional anomalies might accompany morphological aberrations associated with small cell size.