Kaszab Zoltán (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 73. (Budapest 1981)

P. Komáromy, Zs.: Chlorokardion salinarum sp. n. from Hungary (Xanthophyceae, Chloramoebales)

ANNALES HJSTORICO-NATURALES MUSEI NATIONAL!S HUNGARICÏ Tomus73. Budapest, 1981 p. 79-83. Chlorokardion salinarum sp. n. from Hungary (Xanthophyceae, Chloramoebales) by Zs. P.-KOMÁROMY, Budapest Abstract — A new species found in a sodic leaching solution of uranium ores was studied. Chlorokardion salinarum sp. n. differs from its congeners by the dimensions, the number of chloroplast, the presence of stigma and the biotope. Different stadia of its life cycle and the multiplication were also observed. With 1 figure. The genus Chlorokardion was established by PASCHER in 1930, and within the family Chloramoebaceae it was separated from the others by characteristic morphological features : the dorsiventral heart-like shape with cavity at the front end; the amoeboid change of form; the two unequal flagella, and the multiplication by longitudinal bipartition of the cells. The products of assimilation are fat, oil and sometimes chrysolaminarin. The only species, belonging to this genus was identified from distrophic water of pH 4.8-6.2 (PASCHER 1930). Chlorokardion pleurochloron PASCH. is 12-16 u,m long and 8-12 [im wide, exhibiting the characteristics of the genus, possesing three (sometimes two or four) chloroplasts. The daughter cells have chloroplasts in different numbers (usually only one). The specimens of Chlorokardion salinarum sp.n. was found in the leaching solution of uranium ores. The leaching system, formed on the top of the ore's prisms, is considered ecologically as shallow pools with high ion-concentration. Cultures were made with Bold's Basal Medium (STEIN 1973) at room temperature. The morphology of the alga was studied in fresh samples and in liquid medium, too. Chlorokardion salinarum sp. n. Cellulae mobile, biflagellatae; formám cardis habent, cellulae szarum applanatae; membrana cellularum nuda. Flagella inaequa; cellulae 5-6.3 u.m long., 3.6-4.5 y.m diam., uninucleatae

; chromatophorum unum, parietale, colore prasino habent, chloroplasta sunt stigmata; oleum existit. Reproductio asexualis, cellulae per longitudinem in duas partes dividuntur. — Habitat: in aqua salsa, Pécs. The motile individuals are unicellular and exhibit many of the characteristics of the genus. The cells are 5-6.3 \im long and 3.6-4.5 wide. They have slightly flattened, more or less rounded form from the front, and they have a heart-like shape (the apical end is obliquely truncated) in lateral view. In cross-section the cells appear as a curved coin. Two unequal flagella arise from the cavity of the front end, one is 3-4 times longer than the other. The periplast is thin, the individuals exhibit amoeboid change of the shape. Contractile vacuole has not been observed, owing to the quick motion of the cells. The motile unicells posses one (sometimes two) chloroplast of a yellow-green colour, but the yellow colour is dominant. The chloroplasts are stigma ted. The products of photosynthesis are stored as oil and fat appearing as smaller or bigger bright refractive bodies at the front end. The method of multiplication appears to be by longitudinal division during the non-motile stadium. The non-motile cells posses a thicker wall and ovale shape, but sometimes can be seen rectangular form also. The number of chloroplasts may be from one to four, and they have a characteristic yellow-brownish colour. Bright bodies occur in this stadium as well. The longitudinal division of the cells was observed many times in liquid medium.