Table 1 Four types of mating systems and their taxonomy in “VxAf” (Volvox africanus and V. reticuliferus)
Mating system (Abbreviation) | Heterothallic mating system (Hetero) | Homothallic mating system I (Homo I) | Homothallic mating system II (Homo II) | Homothallic mating system III (Homo III) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Sexual spheroids produced | Male and female spheroids by different genotypes | Male and bisexual spheroids by a single genotype | Male and female spheroids by a single genotype | Bisexual spheroids |
Individual sheaths of the spheroid matrix | Confluent or indistinct | Distinct | Distinct | – |
Zygote walls | Reticulate | Smooth | Smooth | – |
Volvox species classified | V. reticuliferus | V. africanus | V. africanus | V. africanus |
NIES-3781, NIES-3782, NIES-3783 [Lake Biwa, Japan]; UTEX 1890–1891 [Small pond, Australia] | NIES-3780 [Lake Biwa, Japan], UTEX 1893 [Dry pond, India] | 1101-NK-1 (= NIES-4467), 1101-NZ-11 (= NIES-4468) [Marsh, Thailand]; UTEX 1889 [Shallow pond, USA] | UTEX 1892 [Ecca Pass, South Africa] | |
References | Starr (1971), the present study | Starr (1971) |