The Effect of Desiccation on Pyrenoid Structure in the Oceanic Lichen Parmelia Laevigata

Abstract

AbstractPhycobiont cells of Parmelia laevigata contain chloroplasts with pyrenoids penetrated by a reticulum of tubules. The occurrence and significance of such tubules in algae is discussed. Although these tubules collapsed in desiccated cells, their lumen reappeared on rehydration. However, in such desiccated cells, pyrenoglobuli did not become peripherally located within the pyrenoid, except when damage occurred to the pyrenoid matrix. Rehydration of desiccated cells reduced the number of pyrenoglobuli per pyrenoid.