Twelve populations of filamentous, heterocytous scytonematoid cyanobacteria from subaerophytic (mainly epiphytic) habitats in subtropical and tropical Brazil (São Paulo) were studied. The populations form a uniform cluster, which differs from the traditional scytonematoid genera genetically and by several indistinct, but typical morphological characters (fasciculation of filaments, rare false branching). Two strains were isolated in monospecific cultures. Molecular analyses were performed on these strains from natural populations taken from bromeliad leaves and iron water pipes. Because the results from 16S rRNA gene sequencing indicated the separate position of this cyanobacterium at the generic level, a new genus, Brasilonema, is proposed with the type species Brasilonema bromeliae. The new genus is described using combined molecular and cytomorphological criteria, in accordance with the nomenclatorial recommendations of both the Bacteriological Code and the Botanical Code of Nomenclature (cf. Oren 2004). The ultrastructure of the type species was studied, and vacuole-like structures in the cells were explained. The genus Brasilonema is commonly distributed, particularly in subaerophytic habitats from southeastern Brazil. The type species (B. bromeliae) has a rather curious ecology, living epiphytically (in phytothelmes) inside the vase-shaped leaf rosettes of bromeliads.
Abstmct:The superficial cell wall ornamentation in the zygospores of the alga Chlamydomonas geitleri Ettl (Chlorophyta) is formed by thickenings of the cell wall which are shaped into a network of anastomosing ribs, sometimes with local wart-like protuberances. Clearly different sculpture patterns (given by presence, arrangement and/or morphological modification of sculpture elements) were accompanied by many transient forms. Sculpture variations occurred even in clonal cultures. In the zygospore cell wall of C. geitleri. the inner, outer and middle layer can be distinguished from the morphological point of view. The relatively thin outer (sporopollenin) layer covers the whole surface of the zygospore wall. The thicker inner layer adhering to the zygospore protoplast forms, either solely or together with the middle layer (possessing a fine meshwork substructure), variously shaped thickening of the zygospore cell wall. Discussed are the ultrastructural morphology of the cell wall in Chlamydomonas zygospores, the striking similarity of the cell wall ultrastructure of zygospores in C. geitleri to the ultrastructure of the cell wall of vegetative cells in some green algae (subfamily Scotiellocystoideae), as well as the extensive morphological variability of the zygospore wall sculpture in C. geitleri and its species specificity.
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