The sporophyte ofLiagora farinosalamour

Abstract

Carpospores of Liagora farinosa from the western Mediterranean in culture gave rise to an Acrochaetium-like phase with filamentous prostrate and sparsely branched erect systems. This phase reproduced readily by tetraspores and monospores. The tetrasporangia were found to go through meiosis and the four haploid spores then gave rise to filamentous protonemal growths on which buds arose that developed into typical (though usually uncalcified) Liagora thalli. The monospores appeared to repeat the Acrochaetium-phase. These observations suggest that Liagora farinosa is another example of those members of the Nemalionales which show a heteromorphic life-history, with the sporophyte generation respresented by a dwarf phase. Some aspects of the developmental physiology of the species are discussed.