Regeneration in the coenocytic marine alga, Caulerpa, with respect to gravity [Caulerpa prolifera, Caulerpa mexicana]

• Published in: American journal of botany Vol. 70; no. 4; pp. 635 - 638
• Main Authors: Matilsky, Michael B., Jacobs, William P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ithaca, NY American Botanical Society 01-04-1983; Botanical Society of America
• Subjects: Algae; Amyloplasts; Biological and medical sciences; Caulerpa mexicana; Caulerpa prolifera; Cell differentiation; Cell physiology; Centrifugation; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Marine; Plant physiology and development; Plants; Rhizomes; Regeneration; Cell differentiation; Algae; Chlorophycophyta; Thallophyta; Gravity
• ISSN: 0002-9122; 1537-2197
• DOI: 10.1002/j.1537-2197.1983.tb07893.x

Small pieces of the green algal coenocyte Caulerpa are capable of regenerating complete new plants. This study investigated the effect of gravity on the site of differentiation of newly forming organs during regeneration. Pairs of 3.0-cm blade segments from C prolifera and C mexicana, as well as 3.0-cm rhizome segments of C. prolifera, were randomly assigned to either upright or inverted positions. This orientation was maintained throughout each experiment. Results revealed that the blade segments maintained a strict polarity of regeneration regardless of inversion and/or centrifugation. Rhizoids and rhizomes formed at the original basal end of the segment, while blades formed at the apical end. This polarity was seen throughout the length of long blades. Rhizome segments, on the other hand, failed to exhibit a strict polarity of regeneration with respect to gravity.