Rm. Crawford et F. Hinz, THE SPINES OF THE CENTRIC DIATOM CORETHRON CRIOPHILUM - LIGHT-MICROSCOPY OF VEGETATIVE CELL-DIVISION, European journal of phycology, 30(2), 1995, pp. 95-105
As part of a study of the biology of the marine planktonic centric dia
tom Corethron criophilum, cells have been followed through the vegetat
ive cell cycle from immediately before cytokinesis until separation of
the two daughter cells. After cytoplasmic cleavage, which lasts 30 mi
n, each of the daughter cells becomes shorter and leaves space for the
spines to develop on each of the new hypovalves. The relationship of
the two cingula of each cell remains static for approximately 12 h whi
le the new valves are developed. Expansion of both of the daughter cel
ls in the pervalvar axis then withdraws the girdles from one another t
hus revealing the mature spines of the new hypovalves which now spring
out to assume their final positions. The function of the cingulum in
protecting and releasing the spines in this diatom is discussed.