LIFE-HISTORY AND PHOTOPERIODIC RESPONSES IN CHONDRUS-GIGANTEUS FORMA FLABELLATUS (GIGARTINACEAE, RHODOPHYTA) FROM JAPAN

The life history and photoperiodic responses of the carrageenophyte Chondrus giganteus forma flabellatus (Rhodophyta) from Japan were investigated in culture. This entity has a Polysiphonia-type life history and the formation of both tetrasporangia and cystocarps is controlled by daylength. A night-break of a 16 h in the middle of a 16 h night was effective in inhibiting reproduction, confirming the classical photoperiodic nature of the response. Tetrasporangia formed at daylengths of 12 h or less, whereas cystocarps only developed at daylengths of 10 h or less. The formation of spermatangia required daylengths of 12 h or less, but production was not inhibited by a night-break of 1 h in the middle of a 16 h night.