Further Observations on the Chemical Composition of Thecae of Platymonas tetrathele West (Prasinophyceae) by Means of the X-ray Microanalyser Electron Microscope (EMMA)

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Abstract
Preliminary observations on the elemental contents of dried thecae of the marine green flagellate Platymonas tetrathele show that calcium, silicon, phosphorus, chlorine, and sulphur are present in quantities sufficient to give significant readings with the electron probe EMMA although the silicon content is so low that this element could be a contaminant from glassware used when harvesting the thecae. Changes induced by washing, and by washing followed by boiling, have been traced and are discussed. The most important result, namely the behaviour of calcium, is interpreted in terms of previous information on the thecal chemistry (Gooday, 1971). It is concluded that calcium is present in native thecae mainly as the calcium salt of galacturonic acid, a major structural component.

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