Pundyak O. Gravidependent polarization of the process of moss spores germination under different conditions of their cultivation

Thesis for Candidate of Sciences degree in Biology, speciality 03.00.11 - cytology, cell biology, histology - Іnstitute of Food Biotechnology and Genomics, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. - Кyiv, 2011. The thesis is devoted to questions on the influence of gravity on the process of polarization of moss spores during their germination. It was shown, that gravity orientates the initiation of primary growth of rhizoids and chloronema of Funaria hygrometrica Hedw. and Ceratodon purpureus (Hedw.) Brid. spores not only along the vertical but also along horizontal direction. It was revealed that cell organelle movement, callose deposition in a cell wall, and growth of rhizoids and chloronema are spatially coordinated. For the first time, an attempt to give the numeral expression of gravidependent shifting of vacuoles in F. hygrometrica spores during their germination was realized. The influence of cultivation conditions (temperature, illumination, the nutrition medium content) as well as lanthanum ions on the gravidependent polarization of F. hygrometrica and C. purpureus spores was elucidated. The peculiarities of gravidependent polarization of F. hygrometrica and C. purpureus spores were compared. On the basis of the obtained data, mathematic criteria to value gravisensitivity of moss spores germination were proposed. Key words: polarity, cell, moss spores, germination, gravisensitivity.