Induction of Conjugation and Zygospore Cell Wall Characteristics in the Alpine <i>Spirogyra mirabilis</i> (Zygnematophyceae, Charophyta): Advantage under Climate Change Scenarios?

ABSTRACT: Extreme environments, such as alpine habitats at high elevation, are increasingly exposed to man-made climate change. Zygnematophyceae thriving in these regions possess a special means of sexual reproduction, termed conjugation, leading to the formation of resistant zygospores. A field sample of Spirogyra with numerous conjugating stages was isolated and characterized by molecular phylogeny. We successfully induced sexual reproduction under laboratory conditions by a transfer to artificial pond water and increasing the light intensity to 184 µmol photons m^-2 s^-1. This, however was only possible in early spring, suggesting that the isolated cultures had an internal rhythm. The reproductive morphology was characterized by light- and transmission electron microsco

SUBMITTER: Permann C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8402014 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature