Deuterocharacium | |
---|---|
Scientific classification
![]() | |
(unranked): | Viridiplantae |
Division: | Chlorophyta |
Class: | Chlorophyceae |
Order: | Sphaeropleales |
Family: | Characiaceae |
Genus: |
Deuterocharacium Petrý, 1969 |
Type species | |
Deuterocharacium polyplastidicum | |
Species [1] | |
Deuterocharacium is a genus of green algae in the family Characiaceae. It is found in freshwater habitats, attached to algae or detritus. It is rare and has only been recorded from Europe. [1]
Deuterocharacium consists of solitary cells that are attached to a substrate via a short mucilaginous pad or a pedicel. Cells are 30-50 μm long and 6-12 μm wide, cylindrical to ovoid, with a rounded or pointed tip. Cells have many small, discoid chloroplasts lining the inside of the cell membrane, which lack pyrenoids. Deuterocharacium has been described as uninucleate (i.e. containing a single nucleus); [1] other sources state the adult cells are multinucleate, [2] but this may be before the zoospores are formed. No eyespot is present. [1]
Deuterocharacium reproduces asexually; sexual reproduction has not been observed in this genus. It obligately produces zoospores which have two flagella and a single chloroplast containing a pyrenoid. Zoospores are produced in groups of 32 to 128, and are released through a tear in the mother cell wall. [1]
Similar genera include Characium and Pseudochlorothecium. Characium differs in having chloroplasts with pyrenoids. It differs from Pseudochlorothecium in that it does not reproduce via autospores, only via zoospores. [1]
Within Deuterocharacium, two species are known, D. polyplastidicum and D. fallax, which differ based on the shape of the cells. [2]
Deuterocharacium | |
---|---|
Scientific classification
![]() | |
(unranked): | Viridiplantae |
Division: | Chlorophyta |
Class: | Chlorophyceae |
Order: | Sphaeropleales |
Family: | Characiaceae |
Genus: |
Deuterocharacium Petrý, 1969 |
Type species | |
Deuterocharacium polyplastidicum | |
Species [1] | |
Deuterocharacium is a genus of green algae in the family Characiaceae. It is found in freshwater habitats, attached to algae or detritus. It is rare and has only been recorded from Europe. [1]
Deuterocharacium consists of solitary cells that are attached to a substrate via a short mucilaginous pad or a pedicel. Cells are 30-50 μm long and 6-12 μm wide, cylindrical to ovoid, with a rounded or pointed tip. Cells have many small, discoid chloroplasts lining the inside of the cell membrane, which lack pyrenoids. Deuterocharacium has been described as uninucleate (i.e. containing a single nucleus); [1] other sources state the adult cells are multinucleate, [2] but this may be before the zoospores are formed. No eyespot is present. [1]
Deuterocharacium reproduces asexually; sexual reproduction has not been observed in this genus. It obligately produces zoospores which have two flagella and a single chloroplast containing a pyrenoid. Zoospores are produced in groups of 32 to 128, and are released through a tear in the mother cell wall. [1]
Similar genera include Characium and Pseudochlorothecium. Characium differs in having chloroplasts with pyrenoids. It differs from Pseudochlorothecium in that it does not reproduce via autospores, only via zoospores. [1]
Within Deuterocharacium, two species are known, D. polyplastidicum and D. fallax, which differ based on the shape of the cells. [2]