CELL DIVISION AND MORPHOGENESIS OF THE CENTRIC DIATOM CHAETOCEROS DECIPIENS (BACILLARIOPHYCEAE) I. LIVING CELLS

Like other diatoms, living cells of Chaetoceros decipiens Cleve expand lengthwise before they divide. During prophase, the nucleolus disappears in about 30 s. The spindle is very small but anaphase chromosome separation can be seen. Following rapid cleavage, the protoplasts contract, plasmolyzing slightly and transforming the cleavage furrow into a lens-shaped opening between daughter cells. During valve initiation, the surface of the furrow is molded slightly into the shape of the mature valve face. Then daughter cells expand further, becoming fully turgid as they open the slots in the girdle bands through which the setae will grow. Soon, delicate protrusions push through the girdle bands and develop into the setae, which are very sensitive: any disturbance will immediately stop their steady growth. Healthy setae display soft, mobile tips and tiny organelles (mitochondria) actively move along the lumen. Their curvature and uniform diameter is controlled during growth with exquisite precision, and in optimal conditions, they can become very long. At their initiation, cells appear fully turgid; however, many cells soon become slightly plasmolyzed during seta growth. This observation strongly suggests that turgor pressure cannot be responsible for driving extension; the possible mechanism is discussed in the following paper.