TIic Culture Collection of Algac at The University of Texas (Ul EX) at Austin was formerly located at Indiana University, Bloomington. In the summer of 1976 when the writer joined ihc faculty of the Department of Botany at The University of Texas, plans were formtilated for moving ihe Collection. With the cooperatioti of the National Science Foundation atid the Administrations of Indiana University and The University of Texas at Austin, the move was made duritig 1976-77 without atiy interruption of service to the scientific community. The Utiiversiiy of Texas has (lrovided and equipped physical facilities for the maintenance and o{>etation of the Collection. The contitiued support of the Collection as a natiotial researcli resource by the National Science Foundation is gratefully acknowledged. The Fottndation provides ihe tnajor fttiancial supjjon fur the actual oi>eration of the Collection, but funds received frotn the sale of ctiltutes are mainlairivd in a special account for partial support of Collection needs such as postage, supplies, secretarial help» etc.

The culture collevtion of algae at the university of texas ataustin 123

SAG ‐ Sammlung von Algenkulturen at the University of Göttingen Catalogue of Strains 1994

Cells of Chlorella fusca var. vacuolata (Cambridge 211/8p) resisted efforts aimed at producing naked protoplasts by enzymatic degradation of the cell wall, and a study of the development and composition of the wall was therefore undertaken.

1.

After cytokinesis has produced naked autospores within the mother cell wall, cell wall formation commences outside the autospore plasma membrane with the appearance of small trilaminar plaques. These enlarge while inter-autospore granular material diminishes in quantity, and they eventually fuse to produce a complete trilaminar sheath around each autospore.




2.

A microfibrillar, cellulase digestible, layer is deposited between the trilaminar component and the plasma membrane. Meanwhile the corresponding microfibrillar component of the mother cell wall is digested leaving only its resistant trilaminar component.




3.

The trilaminar component includes a substance considered to be the polymerized carotenoid, sporopollenin, on the basis of its resistance to extreme extraction procedures including acetolysis, and its infra red absorption spectrum.




4.

Two phases of sporopollenin biosynthesis were detected by means of pulse and pulse-chase treatments with 14C-acetate at intervals during the cell cycle in synchronous cultures. One coincides with the formation of the sporopollenin-containing trilaminar wall component, and the other is 6–8 hours earlier while the cells are in karyokinesis. The former yields labelled sporopollenin directly and the latter probably represents formation of a precursor.




5.

Of five other strains of Chlorella tested, only one possesses sporopollenin, and so does one Scenedesmus and two out of three strains of Prototheca.




6.

Examination of the wall structure of the above algae suggest a relationship between the presence of sporopollenin and the development of an outer, trilaminar wall component.




7.

A survey of the literature gives support to this hypothesis and further suggests that the ability to synthesise sporopollenin is related to the ability to produce secondary carotenoids.




8.

The significance of the findings is discussed.

Sporopollenin in the cell wall of Chlorella and other algae: Ultrastructure, chemistry, and incorporation of 14 C-acetate, studied in synchronous cultures

Mixotrophic cyanobacteria and microalgae as distinctive biological agents for organic pollutant degradation.

Accumulation, metabolism, and effects of organochlorine insecticides on microorganisms.

Ultrastructural studies revealed that Chlorosarcina stigmatica Deason differs from C. brevispinosa and C. longispinosa Chantanachat and Bold because the vegetative cells possess a pyrenoid, and the zoospores have chlorophycean characteristics. Zoospores of the latter species exhibit pleurastrophycean characteristics including counterclockwise absolute orientation of the flagellar apparatus components. Nuclear division in C. longispinosa, like that of Friedmannia israelensis Chantanachat and Bold, is metacentric. It is suggested that a new genus, Desmotetra, be erected for Chlorosarcina stigmatica, and that it, along with Chlorosarcinopsis Herndon, be placed in the Chlorococcales, Chlorophyceae. Chlorosarcina brevispinosa and C. longispinosa belong in the Pleurastrales, Pleurastrophyceae.

Comparative ultrastructure of three species of chlorosarcina (chlorosarcinaceae, chlorophyta) 1,2

The development of sperm packets of the M5 strain of Volvox aureus.

A new coccoid rhodophytan species is described and compared with other species in the genus Rhodella. Thylakoids in the pyrenoid characterize the new species and indicate a closer relationships of Rhodella to Porphyridium than was previously indicated.

Rhodella reticulata sp. nov., a new coccoid rhodophytan alga (porphyridiales)1,2

In an earlier paper the authors utilized thirtysix isolates of planktonic algae to study the effect of atrazine, carbaryl, methoxychlor, diazinon and 2,4-D (butoxy ethanol ester) on growth (BUTLER et al. 1974). At the end of the growth period the cultures were also analyzed by gas chromatography to collect evidence that certain strains might metabolize the pesticides at a significant rate. The evidence sought in this case was the disappearance of the pesticides from cultures of actively growing algae. This report concerns the loss of the five pesticides from actively growing cultures.

Loss of five pesticides from cultures of twenty-one planktonic algae

The fine structure of mitosis and cleavage in Axilosphaera vegetata Cox & Deason, Chlorococcum echinozygotum Starr, Chlorosarcinopsis eremi Chantanachat & Bold, Nautococcus mammilatus Korshikoff, N. terrestris Archibald, N. soluta Archibald, Neospongiococcum solitarium Deason, and Tetracystis aeria Brown & Bold was observed. All possess a phycoplast, but differences in basal body position during mitosis were observed. Nautococcus mammilatus differs from the others as protoplast rotation occurs in many cells prior to cleavage.

Temd R. Deason

Papers

Comparative ultrastructure of three species of chlorosarcina (chlorosarcinaceae, chlorophyta) 1,2

The development of sperm packets of the M5 strain of Volvox aureus.

Rhodella reticulata sp. nov., a new coccoid rhodophytan alga (porphyridiales)1,2

Loss of five pesticides from cultures of twenty-one planktonic algae

Mitosis and cleavage during zoosporogenesis in several coccoid green algae1