Formation of secondary connecting filaments, a new post-fertilisation stage in Mediterranean species of Kallymenia (Kallymeniaceae, Rhodophyta)

A new post-fertilisation stage, consisting of secondary connecting filaments produced from the primary connecting filament in the vicinity of the auxiliary cell branch system, was observed in Mediterranean monocarpogonial and polycarpogonial species of Kallymenia. In the monocarpogonial species the connecting filaments were formed from a little modified primary connecting filament close to the auxiliary cell and in the polycarpogonial species they were produced from a highly modified, swollen, hyaline portion of the primary connecting filament that remained attached to the auxiliary cell. Since most of these connecting filaments were seen clearly linked by pit connections in both instances, they are interpreted as secondary connecting filaments produced in essentially the same way as the primary connecting filaments that derive from the carpogonial branch fusion cell.