COLCHICINE-INDUCED ALTERATIONS IN COLONY DEVELOPMENT INEUDORINA ELEGANS(VOLVOCALES, CHLOROPHYTA)1

Colonies of Eudorina elegans Ehrenberg were treated with a 0.2% colchicine solution for periods of up to 48 h, and a number of alterations were observed in dividing colonies. Nuclear alterations were observed after 20 min of treatment, due to the inhibition of spindle microtubule polymerization. This inhibition resulted in increased ploidy levels, and permanent diploid colonies were obtained. The inhibition of cytoplasmic microtubule polymerization resulted in a number of structural alterations including: unequal cytokinesis of plakeal cells, the partial or complete inhibition of cytokinesis (30 min treatment), production of “stellate” cells (90 min treatment), and the subsequent formation of extra-cytoplasmic particles around the plakeal cells (3 h treatment). A possible cytoskeletal function of peripherally orient ed microtubules, and the role of the phycoplast microtubules is discussed. In addition, colchicine treatment caused an inhibition of inversion (60 min treatment), an increase in golgi-associated vesicles, and an excessive production of colonial envelope material (3 h treatment). The latter resulted in the formation of flattened Gonium-like colonies. The process of inversion is discussed in light of the above results. Chloroplast microtubules, however, were unaffected by colchicine treatment.