ENDOPOLYPLOIDIZATION PATTERNS IN NON-GENERATIVE ANTHERIDIAL CELLS IN MONOECIOUS AND DIOECIOUS CHARA SPP (CHARACEAE) WITH DIFFERENT DNA C-VALUES

Cytophotometric measurements of nuclear DNA contents and morphometric analyses in the antheridia of five species of Chara indicate that the level of endopolyploidy plays an important role in determining the maximum sizes that shield cells, manubria, and capitular cells attain at the final stage of spermiogenesis. Dioecious species with low DNA C-values-C. aspera and C. tomentosa-display higher values of endopolyploidy: their male sex organs are larger and the quantities of spermatozoids per antheridium are greater than those estimated for monoecious species - C. vulgaris, C. fragilis, and C. contraria. Two types of "nucleotypic" effects were found to synchronize developmental traits in germ line cells and non-generative component parts within the antheridia; both are discussed in relation to the biological productivity of male sex organs in mono- and dioecious species of Chara.