The occurrence of three endophytic green algae within Chondrus crispus Stackh. is reported. Two of them are new to science and are described as Acrochaete heteroclada Correa and Nielsen sp. nov. and A. operculata Correa and Nielsen sp. nov. The algae were studied in unialgal culture and in association with the host following infection of C. crispus under laboratory conditions. The experimental infection showed A. heteroclada to be initially epiphytic, with endophytic filaments growing into the cortex of the host during late infection. A. operculata is entirely endophytic when associated with the host. Phaeophila dendroides (Crouan frat.) Batters behaves as an epiphyte at 15 and 24°C but penetrates the host tissues at 20°C. For all three species, a close physical association with the host is established only when zoospores settle and germinate on the surface of C. crispus.

The life history of Gracilaria sp. was completed in culture demonstrating a typical Polysiphonia-type life history. Carpospores released by plants collected in nature developed into tetrasporophytes and subsequent release and germination of tetraspores gave rise to a gametophytic generation morphologically similar to the tetrasporophyte. Development of tetrasporophytes from carpospores released by the carposporophytic generation completed the life history. A male to female ratio of 1:1 was found for plants originating from tetraspores and only female plants grown in the presence of male plants formed fertile cystocarps. Detached plants showed the greatest reproductive potential; reproductive maturation of these plants occurred in 8–10 weeks after spore germination. Vegetative propagation through rapid regeneration of adventitious branches from wound tissue was observed.

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