Pediastrum

Pediastrum is a genus of green algae, in the family Hydrodictyaceae.[1] It is a photoautotrophic, nonmotile coenobial (fixed number of cells) green algae that inhabits freshwater environments.

Pediastrum
Pediastrum duplex
Scientific classification
Phylum: Chlorophyta
Class: Chlorophyceae
Order: Sphaeropleales
Family: Hydrodictyaceae
Genus: Pediastrum
Meyen, 1829
Type species
Pediastrum duplex
Species[1]
  • Pediastrum angulosum
  • Pediastrum bijuga
  • Pediastrum biradiatum
  • Pediastrum boryanum
  • Pediastrum vtdpas
  • Pediastrum conchense
  • Pediastrum contiguum
  • Pediastrum duplex
  • Pediastrum ellipticum
  • Pediastrum gracillimum
  • Pediastrum integrum
  • Pediastrum orbitale
  • Pediastrum simplex
  • Pediastrum tricyclium

Reproduction

Pediastrum reproduces asexually by producing autocolonies. The protoplast of each parent cell gives rise to a biflagellate zoospore for each cell in the parent colony. The zoospores are freed from the parent cell within a vesicle and then arrange themselves into the cellular arrangement for that particular species. The cells then enlarge until they reach full size. Each cell can generate a daughter autocolony with exactly the same number and arrangement of cells as the parent colony.

Pediastrum reproduces sexually via the fusion of small, biflagellate gametes that are released from the parent cell. The zygotes germinate into zoospores, which turn into thick-walled polyeders that generate the new coenobia. These polyeders can also result from asexual reproduction.

  • Pediastrum boryanum
  • Colony of Pediastrum algae

References
  1. Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. (2007). "Genus: Pediastrum taxonomy browser". AlgaeBase version 4.2 World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. Retrieved 2007-09-25.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.