Abnormal asexual reproduction of thalli of Ecklonia stolonifera (Laminariales, Phaeophyceae) off the coast of Nakanoshima in the Oki Islands, Japan

摘要

Multiple abnormal individuals of Ecklonia stolonifera with thalli that developed numerous shoot-like structures on the lateral blades were found in two littoral regions of Nakanoshima in the Oki Islands, Shimane Prefecture, Japan. Except for the presence of these diagnostic structures, no other morphological differences were observed between the abnormal and normal individuals. The development of the shoot-like structures isolated from the lateral blade was the same as that of typical vegetative reproductive sporophytes that formed on stolons. In the abnormal individuals, when cultivation was performed using zoospores, the shoot-like structures were observed on the progeny after 18 months of culture and 20.0% of individuals exhibited these structures.