Septation and fragmentation inOedogonium mitochondria as different and independent effects of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) treatment

Summary Oedogonium cardiacum Wittrock, a filamentous green alga, was treated with DMSO. The substance induced active swelling and fragmentation of mitochondria at both 5 and 7.5%. Septa were observed at 7.5% only and were not identical with the fragmentation sites. Thus it is concluded that internal partition by septa is not a prerequisite for mitochondrial fragmentation or division.Acknowledgment. This work was supported by the Österreichische Nationalbank, Jubiläumsfondsprojekt No. 1927.