PRODUCTION OF MALE GAMETES AND AUXOSPORES IN THE CENTRIC DIATOMS <i>CYCLOTELLA MENEGHINIANA</i> AND C. <i>CRYPTICA</i>¹²

Abstract

Vegetative cells of Cyclotella meneghiniana Kützing form male gametes and anxospores following transfer from a synthetic freshwater medium to a modified artificial seawater. Both spermatogenesis and auxospore formation are correlated with an increase in the Na(+) concentration in the medium. Spermatogenesis can also be induced in C. cryptica Reimann, Lewin, and Guillard in artificial seawater with an adjusted sodium level.