Sexual Reproduction in Protozoa
Two processes- 1. Syngamy
2. Conjugation
1. Syngamy:
It is the complete fusion of two cells or gametes,
resulting in the formation of zygote. The fusion
nucleus of zygote is called synkaryon.
a) Hologamy: The two ordinary mature protozoan individuals do not form
gametes but themselves behave as gametes and fuse together to form zygote.
e.g. Copromonas
b) Isogamy: When two fusing gametes are similar in size and shape but differ
in behaviour, they are called isogametes and their union, isogamy. Isogametes
are generally produced by multiple fission
e.g. Chlamydomonas
c) Anisogamy: When two fusing gametes, differ morphologically as well as in
behaviour, they are called anisogametes and the fusion of these dissimilar
gametes is called anisogamy. Small and motile gametes are the male or
microgametes and large non-motile ones are the female or macrogametes.
e.g. Plasmodium, Volvox
d) Autogamy: It is the fusion of gametes derived from the same parent cell.
Pseudopodia are withdrawn and a cyst is formed. Now meiotic division takes
place and two daughter nuclei with half number of chromosomes are formed.
After sometime, gametic nuclei fuse to form a zygote nucleus.
e.g. Actinophrys
2. Conjugation (Amphimixis):
It is the temporary union of two individuals usually at oral or buccal
regions of their body.
It is characteristic of Suctoria and holotrich ciliates.
These two individuals are called the conjugants.
They stop feeding and their buccal structures disappear.
The pellicle and ectoplasm fuse at the point of contact and a
protoplasmic bridge is formed between the conjugants.
Macronuclei break up and disappear.
The diploid micronucleus of each conjugant undergo meiotic
division and 4 haploid daughter micronuclei are produced of which
3 degenerate and disappear in each conjugant.
The remaining one micronucleus divides by mitosis forming 2
unequal pronuclei or gametic nuclei.
The smaller one is the active migratory gamete nucleus or
male pronucleus and the bigger one is the passive
stationary gamete nucleus or female pronucleus.
Male pronucleus of one conjugant passes through the
protoplasmic bridge into the other conjugant and fuses
with its female pronucleus, forming a single diploid zygote
nucleus or synkaryon.
The complete fusion of two nuclei from two different
individuals forming a zygote nucleus is termed amphimixis.
After a union of about 12 to 48 hours, two individuals
separate and are called exconjugants.
Each conjugants undergoes further nuclear and cytoplasmic
divisions forming four daughter individuals.
Factors and conditions of conjugants:
Does not occur under favourable living conditions
Starvation and shortage of food and certain chemicals are said to
induce conjugation.
A certain range of light and temperature
Usually starts early in morning and is continued till afternoon.
Individuals are smaller in size than the normal one
It never takes place among the descendants of a single individual
It occurs only between individuals belonging to different mating
types.
Significance of conjugation
Rejuvenation:
If binary fission continues repeatedly for several generations, the
individual loses its vigour, ceases to multiply, reduces in size and
eventually dies off.
To avoid this, conjugation is resorted to and the process seems to
rejuvenate and revive the lost vigour for asexual reproduction.
Nuclear reorganization:
During conjugation, the nuclear apparatus is reorganized and a
readjustment occurs between it and the cytoplasm.
The replacement of macronucleus by a new one brings renewed
vigour and vitality to accelerate the metabolic activities.
Hereditary variation:
During asexual reproduction by fission, the hereditary material of the
parent passes unchanged on to the progeny, so that all the
descendants of one individual have the same inheritance.
The periodic occurrence of conjugation ensures inherited variation.
Genetic consequences of conjugation:
AA aa Aa Aa
A A a a A a A a
Aa Aa Aa Aa AA Aa Aa aa
Regeneration
At fission or encystment
Economic importance
1. Useful protozoa
Helpful in sanitation
Planktonic protozoa as food
Symbiotic protozoa
Oceanic ooze and fossil protozoa
Protozoa in study
2. Harmful protozoa:
Soil protozoa
Water pollution
Pathogenic protozoa
