Number of Chlorella cells that can be harboured in the cytoplasm

Range >1,200 Chlorella cells/cytoplasm
Organism Ciliate peritrich Ophrydium versatile
Reference Esteban GF, Fenchel T, Finlay BJ. Mixotrophy in ciliates. Protist. 2010 Dec161(5):621-41. doi: 10.1016/j.protis.2010.08.002 p.628 right column top paragraphPubMed ID20970377
Comments P.628 right column top paragraph: "One of the most spectacular Chlorella-bearing ciliates is the colonial sessile peritrich Ophrydium versatile. Colonies can be over 15 cm in diameter and have the appearance of gelatinous spheres sitting on underwater rocks in shallow oligotrophic lake waters (Sand-Jensen et al. 1997). The species has recently been recorded in shallow, slow-flowing waters in an African river (Oberholster et al. 2010). The peritrichs are embedded in jelly, and occupy only the peripheral layer of the colony. Each individual ciliate can harbour more than 1,200 Chlorella cells in the cytoplasm, which are an essential source of carbon and oxygen."
Entered by Uri M
ID 114548