The Fine Structure of Algal Cells is a hybrid between a review and a comprehensive descriptive work on fine structure of algae. Such fine structural data are important for any consideration of the classification of algae and for attempting to analyze their phylogenetic relationships. ¿Fine-structure¿ has provided many vital keys to the understanding of the interrelationships and phylogeny of the algae. Notably, the trend in algal fine structure work is toward use of electron microscopy to try to understand the functions of cells and organelles under both normal and experimental conditions. This book brings together information which has been gathered by electron microscopists. It considers 13 classes of algae: Chlorophyceae, Haptophyceae, Prasinophyceae, Bacillariophyceae, Chloromonadophyceae, Phaeophyceae, Euglenophyceae, Dinophyceae, Eustigmatophyceae, Cryptophyceae, Xanthophyceae, Rhodophyceae, and Chrysophyceae. It covers the main structural features of the various classes and the organelles present in typical cells. The book also describes the algal cell covering, flagella, pyrenoid, eyespot, nucleus, and ejectile organelles,as well as membranes, envelope, and stroma of algal chloroplasts. Lastly, it also explains the algal cell division. This book will help students visualize and compare algal structure, and at the same time provide enough references so that research workers can enter the literature to find out more precise details from the original sources.

Introduction1. A General Account of the Structure of Algal Cells I. Bacillariophyceae (Diatoms) II. Chloromonadophyceae (Raphidophyceae) III. Chlorophyceae (Green Algae) A. Zygnemaphyceae B. Oedogoniophyceae C. Bryopsidophyceae D. Chlorophyceae (sensu Round) IV. Chrysophyceae (Golden Algae) V. Cryptophyceae VI. Dinophyceae (Dinoflagellates) VII. Euglenophyceae VIII. Eustigmatophyceae IX. Haptophyceae X. Phaeophyceae (Brown Algae) XI. Prasinophyceae XII. Rhodophyceae (Red Algae) XIII. Xanthophyceae (Yellow-Green Algae)2. The Cell Covering I. Naked membrane II. Modifications within the Plasma-Membrane A. Cryptophyceae-Periplast B. Euglenophyceae-Pellicle C. The Dinophyceae-Theca III. Scaly Covering Outside Cell Membrane A. Scales of Organic Material B. Calcite Scales C. Silica Scales D. Scale Formation IV. The Diatom Frustule V. The Cell Wall A. Incomplete Walls (such as the Lorica) B. Complete Cell Walls C. Calcified Algal Walls D. Plasmodesmata in Algal Cell Walls E. Cell Wall Formation3. Flagella and Associated Structures I. External Features A. Smooth Flagella B. Flagella with Single Row of Hairs (Stichonematic) C. Flagella with Two Rows of Hairs (Pantonematic) D. Flagella Bearing Spines E. Scaly Flagella II. Internal Structure of Flagella A. The Free Part B. The Transition Zone C. The Flagellar Base, Basal Body or Kinetoplast III. Flagellar Roots IV. The Origin of Flagellar Hairs V. Pseudocilia VI. The Haptonema4. Chloroplasts (Plastids) I. Chloroplast Structure A. Structure of the Thylakoid B. Arrangement of the Thylakoids C. The Chloroplast Stroma or Matrix D. The Chloroplast Envelope and Endoplasmic Reticulum Sheath II. Unusual Chloroplast Structure in Mutants, etc III. Chloroplast Development IV. Chloroplast Division V. Chloroplasts as Symbionts5. The Pyrenoid I. Types of Pyrenoid A. Simple Internal Pyrenoid B. Compound Internal Pyrenoid C. Stalked Pyrenoids D. Pyrenoid with Nuclear or Cytoplasmic Invaginations E. Pyrenoid Entirely Embedded in a Starch-containing Chloroplast II. The Pyrenoid Matrix III. The Development of Pyrenoids IV. Pyrenoids and Taxonomy6. TheEyespot I. The Types of Eyespot II. The Development and Replication of Eyespots III. Eyespot Structure and Taxonomy IV. The Function of the Eyespot 7. The Nucleus and Nuclear Division I. The Interphase Nucleus A. Nuclear Envelope B. Nucleolus C. Chromatin II. Nuclear Division-Mitosis A. Chlorophyceae B. Phaeophyceae C. Chloromonadophyceae D. Haptophyceae E. Chrysophyceae F. Bacillariophyceae G. Xanthophyceae H. Rhodophyceae I. Euglenophyceae J. Dinophyceae K. Cryptophyceae III. Nuclear Division-Meiosis8. Cell Division (Cytokinesis) I. Unicellular Algae A. Flagellates B. Desmids (Chlorophyceae) C. Coccoid Algae (Chlorophyceae) II. Multicellular Algae A. Filaments B. Parenchymatous Algae 9. Ejectile Organelles I. Trichocysts in the Dinophyceae II. Nematocysts (Cnidocysts) of Dinoflagellates III. Ejectosomes of Cryptomonads IV. Discobolocysts in the Chrysophyceae V. Other Ejectile Organelles 10. Miscellaneous Organelles and Inclusions I. Mitochondria II. Golgi or Dictyosomes III. The Contractile Vacuole IV. The Pusule V. Microbodies (Peroxisomes) VI. Food Storage Materials A. Polysaccharide B. Lipids C. Protein VII. Polyphosphate Inclusions and Phosphatases VIII. Virus-like Inclusions IX. Membranous Extrusions and Inclusions, Digestion Vesicles11. Reproductive Structures I. Gamete Formation and Structure A. Phaeophyceae B. Bacillariophyceae C. Xanthophyceae D. Chlorophyceae II. Gamete Fusion and Zygote Development III. Spore Formation and Structure IV. Encystment 12. Symbiosis 13. Experimental Ultrastructure Studies I. Effects of Chemicals II. Effects of Environmental Conditions A. Nutrition B. Light C. Osmotic Potential III. Senescence 14. Postscript: Fine Structure and PhylogenyReview Articles and BooksReferencesAuthor IndexSubject Index