An endophytic Streblonema (Phaeophyta) associated with galls in Fucus spiralis (Phaeophyta) from the Canary Islands

Abstract

Galls observed in Fucus spiralis are wart-like protrusions 1-7 mm in diameter, restricted to the midrib of mature plants. Gall structure consists of a radial and unorganized growth of the cortical tissue as a result of the cells enlargement and division. Plants of F. spiralis bearing galls were always collected with Streblonema sp. filaments growing between host cells. But the relation between the occurrence of galls in Fucus and the presence of endophytic filaments of Streblonema remain uncertain in the absence of experimental evidence.

Se observaron agallas verrucosas de 1-7 mm de diámetro en el engrosamiento central de plantas de Fucus spiralis. Las agallas presentan una estructura radial no organizada, debido a la elongación y división de las células corticales. Todas las plantas de Fucus spiralis con agallas presentaron filamentos de Streblonema sp., creciendo entre las células del hospedante. Sin embargo, en ausencia de evidencias experimentales, la relación entre la existencia de agallas y la presencia de filamentos endofíticos de Streblonema es incierta.