The synchronous division of dictyosomes at the premitotic stage

Abstract

The number and distribution pattern of dictyosomes in cells of a green alga, Closterium ehrenbergii, were examined by fluorescence microscopy. Dictyosomes absorbed the fluorescent dye, DiOC6 (3) intensely, and strongly radiated fluorescent light. Dictyosomes were distributed in the cytoplasm along the longitudinal chloroplast-ridges. They began to divide synchronously at a premitotic stage when the chloroplast started to divide, and duplicated in number before the cell divided by a transverse septum. Approximately the same number of dictyosomes entered each daughter cell. The dictyosomes never migrated freely in the cytoplasm but migrated a short distance after division.