University of Rhode Island DigitalCommons@URI Open Access Dissertations 1994 Histochemistry of Spore Mucilage and Inhibition of Spore Adhesion in Champia parvula, A Marine Alga Martha E. Apple University of Rhode Island Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/oa_diss Recommended Citation Apple, Martha E., "Histochemistry of Spore Mucilage and Inhibition of Spore Adhesion in Champia parvula, A Marine Alga" (1994). Open Access Dissertations. Paper 783. https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/oa_diss/783 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@URI. It has been accepted for inclusion in Open Access Dissertations by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@URI. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. HISTOCHEMISTRY OF SPORE MUCILAGE AND INHIBITION OF SPORE ADHESION IN CHAMPIA PARVULA, A MARINE RED ALGA. BY MARTHA E. APPLE A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND 1994 DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY DISSERTATION OF MARTHA E. APPLE APPROVED: Dissertation Committee Major Professor DEAN OF THE GRADUATE SCHOOL UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND 1994 Abstract Spores of the marine red alga, Champja parvu!a, attached initially to plastic or glass cover slips by extracellular mucilage. Adhesive rhizoids emerged from germinating spores, provided a further basis of attachment and rhizoidal division formed the holdfast. Mucilage of holdfasts and attached spores stained for sulfated and carboxylated polysaccharides. Rhizoids and holdfast cells but not mucilage stained for protein. Removal of holdfasts with HCI revealed protein anchors in holdfast cell remnants. Spores detached when incubated in the following enzymes: 13-galactosidase, protease, ce!!u!ase, a-amylase, hya!uronidase, sulfatase, and mannosidase.