Intermitotic timing and motility patterns in the cell division of the diatom Seminavis robusta

Many diatoms follow a size diminuation - size restoration cycle in their vegetative phase, leading to daughter cells that differ in size. For the diatom Seminavis robusta, we investigated by cell tracking over several generations whether the size difference reflects also in different intermitotic times or in the mobility of the cells. A tracking setup and machine-learning based detection algorithm was developed that revealed no significant difference in intermitotic times, a weak coupling to the day- night cycle, and a higher motility of the hypothecal, smaller daughter cell.