Fertilization, including chemotactic phenomena in the Fucaceae

Abstract

Chemotaxis between gametes particularly of the Fucaceae is discussed and techniques for its detection described. Cell-free preparations of Fucus serratus and F. vesiculosus eggs have been obtained which exert a chemotactic attraction on the sperms of F. serratus, F. vesiculosus and F. spiralis, the same chemotactic mechanism among these closely related species being indicated. The chemotactic principle is easily expelled from aqueous solution by a stream of inert gas, and may be recovered in a cooled receiver; it seems therefore to be a simple compound. Various arylacetic acids have a marked effect on the Fucus sperms studied but this effect is distinct from true chemotaxis and is not related to the plant hormone or herbicide activities of the responsible acids.