Asexual thalli originated from sporophytic thalli via apomeiosis in the green seaweed Ulva

Apomixis is an asexual reproduction system without fertilization, which is an important proliferation strategy for plants and algae. Here, we report on the apomeiosis in the green seaweed Ulva prolifera, which has sexual and obligate asexual populations. Genomic PCR of mating type (MT)-locus genes revealed asexual thalli carrying both MT genomes. Observation of the chromosomes during the formation of each type of reproductive cell revealed that cells in asexual thalli performed apomeiosis without chromosome reduction. Moreover, genotyping revealed that laboratory-cultured sporophytic thalli produced not only each type of gametophyte but also diploid thalli carrying the mt(−) and mt(+) genome (mt(±) thallus strains). The mt(±) thallus strain released diploid biflagellate zoids, with ultrastructure and behavior similar to mt(+) gametes. Additionally, a transcriptomic analysis revealed that some meiosis-related genes (Mei2L and RAD1) were highly expressed in the quadriflagellate zoosporoids. Our results strongly suggest that asexual thalli originally evolved via apomeiosis in sporophytic thalli.