Pit connections in Bangia fuscopurpurea

The Bangia and Conchocelis-phases of Bangia fuscopurpurea were studied light and electron microscopically. Typical florideophycean algal pit connections were found in the Conchocelis-phase and were lacking in the Bangia-phase. Electron microscopy has revealed that these dumbell-shaped structures are membrane bound plugs continuous between adjacent cells. The presence of such entities in one stage of the life cycle of a bangiophycean alga, once thought to be unique to the higher red algal subclass Florideophycidae, indicates closer evolutionary ties between the two subclasses.