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Aspects of morphogenesis and function of diatom cell walls with implications for taxonomy

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Summary

Aspects of morphogenesis and morphology of diatom cell walls are reviewed to highlight functional correlations between wall structures and three-dimensional cytoplasmic activities during the cell cycle. Morphogenesis of the siliceous valve within the silica deposition vesicle is discussed in the light of the dependency on a precisely orchestrated moulding machinery, involving the cytoskeleton, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, spacer vesicles produced by the Golgi apparatus, and the plasmalemma, in combination with adhesion of the cells to parts of the parental wall and localized “plasmolyses”. Sensitivity of morphogenetic events to fluctuations of external factors has implications for taxonomy.

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Abbreviations

CF:

cleavage furrows

cPL:

cleavage plasmalemma

GB:

girdle bands

LP:

labiate process

LPA:

labiate process apparatus

MC:

microtubule center

mLP:

macro labiate process

MT:

microtubule

MTOC:

microtubules organizing center

PL:

plasmalemma

SDV:

silica deposition vesicle

SL SDV:

membrane

SpV:

spacer vesicles

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  1. Institut für Pflanzenphysiologie, Universität Salzburg, Hellbrunnerstrasse 34, A-5020, Salzburg, Austria

    Anna-Maria M. Schmid

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Dedicated to Professor Peter Sitte on the occasion of his 65th birthday

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Schmid, AM.M. Aspects of morphogenesis and function of diatom cell walls with implications for taxonomy. Protoplasma 181, 43–60 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01666388

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