Marine Botany

PelvetiaFertilization

in what used to be called Pelvetia, now

Silvetia compressa (J. Agardh) Serrão, Cho, Boo et Brawley

Fertilization is oogamous and the spermatozoa may be attracted to the eggs by a hydrocarbon called fucoserraten. The spermatozoa penetrate the oogonial sac before the release of the eggs and move through a pore in the mesochyte which used to be attached to the oogonium; they are prevented from fusing until the release of the eggs from the sac. Once the eggs are released, multiple spermatozoa attach to the egg by the anterior flagellum. One manages to penetrate the egg whereupon the other spermatozoa are immobilized by an inactivating agent. The egg becomes firm by the secretion of a polysaccharide called glycocalyx. The male nucleus migrates to the female nucleus along associated microtubules; as it does so, the male nuclear envelope breaks up while the female nucleus becomes convoluted along the surface nearest the advancing male nucleus. Right before nuclear fusion, egg mitochondria accumulate near the male nucleus.

Credit Rhoda Lin

© 1996 R. H.  Lin

Last updated: Jan. 05, 2005