Meristems and morphogenesis in ascophyllum nodosum ecad mackaii(Cotton)

Abstract

The regular pattern of morphological development seen in attached plants of Ascophyllum nodosum (L.) Le Jol. is lacking in the most reduced beach forms of the ecad. Under various conditions of day length, salinity and added growth substances, this loss of the characteristic pattern of growth appeared to be irreversible. Fertilised eggs from the ecad show abnormal germination, but in culture a small percentage have the ability to grow into attached germlings. The reduced form of the ecad appears to be derived from regenerated branches which originate from a wound healing layer after the apical meristems and lateral nodes have been destroyed on a cast up piece of thallus. © 1971 The British Phycological Society.