PRODUCTION OF MALE GAMETES AND AUXOSPORES IN THE CENTRIC DIATOMS CYCLOTELLA MENEGHINIANA AND C. CRYPTICA12

Abstract
Vegetative cells of Cyclotella meneghiniana Kutzing form male gametes and auxospores following transfer from a synthetic freshwater medium to a modified artificial seawater. Both spermatogenesis and auxospore formation are correlated with an increase in the Na+ concentration in the medium. Spermatogenesis can also be induced in C. cryptica Reimann, Lewin, et Guillard in artificial seawater with an adjusted sodium level.