Reproduction in Spirogyra

Spirogyra reproduces by following methods

 Vegetative reproduction: Fragmentation

 Asexual reproduction: Akinete, Aplanospore and Azygospore formation
 Sexual reproduction: Conjugation by zygospore

Vegetative reproduction in Spirogyra:

It takes place by fragmentation. It is the common mode of reproduction in spirogyra. Any mechanical
damage in the filament or death of some intercalary cell can result in fragmentation. Each fragment
bearing few living cell can grow into new filament by repeated cell division.

Asexual reproduction in Spirogyra:

It is very rare mode of reproduction. It usually occurs under unfavorable condition where spirogyra
produces asexual spores. Two types of asexual spore are formed-Akinetes and Aplanospore.

i) Akinetes: It is a thick walled resting spore formed during unfavorable conditions among
some species of Spirogyra such as S. farlowii. When the environmental condition
become harsh for the organism then some vegetative cells of the filament lose water get
shrunk and rounded. They also deposit thick wall around and act as resting spore. On
return of favorable condition, akinete germinate into new filament.
ii) Aplanospore: It is a thin walled non-motile asexual spore produced under unfavorable
condition by more than 20 species of Spirogyra. Vegetative cell after losing water get
rounded up, secrete thin wall around and develop into spore. Single aplanospore formed
in single cell. Aplanospore are released after decay of mother filament and germinate
into new filament on arrival of favorable condition.
iii) Azygospore: It is also known as Parthenospore: In some species such as S.rhizoides,
S. mirabilis etc due to physiological condition gametes fail to fuse and behave as spore.

Sexual reproduction in Spirogyra:

It usually occurs by zygospore formation conjugation during favorable condition. Conjugation is the
process of fusion of two gametes produced by two opposite strain. One strain which donate gamete
is designated as male while other one is designated as female. The two gamete produced are
morphologically similar and are known as Isogamete. So morphologically reproduction is Isogamous.
However, at the time of conjugation male gamete become active and motile and female gamete
passive and non-motile, so physiologically reproduction is Anisogamous.

In Spirogyra sexual reproduction is of two type

 i) Scalariform: It take place between the cells of two different filaments of opposite strain. At
the time of conjugation two opposite strain are attracted toward each other and lie parallel in close
contact under common sheath of mucilage. The cell of opposite filament behaves as gamentangia
and produce a tubular outgrowth called papillae. The papillae elongates and fused through
anterior end with papillae of opposite filament forming conjugation tube. The conjugation tube is
hollow structure formed as enzyme cytase dissolve the wall joining the two papillae. Several
 conjugation tube may appear along the length of filament giving ladder like appearance. So, this
conjugation is known as scalariform conjugation. At the same time the protoplast of conjugating
cell lose water, accumulate starch and function as gamete. Among two gametes, male gamete is
motile and active while female gamete is stationary. Male gamete squeezes through conjugation
tube and passes into another filament and gets fused with female gamete forming zygote. The
zygote produce thick wall around it forming Zygospore. One filament form series of zygospore
while other filament become vacant. Zygospore under suitable condition germinates into new
filament.

ii) Lateral conjugation: It occurs between the cells of same filament among homothallic species of
Spirogyra. It occur by two methods
a) Indirect lateral conjugation: In this method, two adjacent cells of same filament
develop lateral outgrowth. Due to lateral outgrowth and enzymatic activities the septum
between the cells breaks forming conjugation tube. The male gamete moves through
the conjugation tube and fused with female gamete forming zygote or zygospore, which
develop into new filament.
b) Direct lateral conjugation: It is primitive type of conjugation occurring in few
species. In this type, lower cell of the two adjacent cells get enlarged and form barrel
shaped female gamete, while other behave as male gamete. The male gamete develop
pointed boring organ which create pore mechanically or enzymatically on middle of the
septum. The protoplasm of male gamete migrate through the pore and fused with
female gamete forming zygospore which develop into new filament under suitable
condition.
Germination of Zygospore in Spirogyra:
zygospore are thick walled sexual spore. It is a diploid spore and is releases after decay of the
female filament. It is a resting spore and resistant to unfavorable environmental condition. Under
suitable condition zygospores germinate. Before germination, diploid nucleus of zygote divides
meiotically into haploid nucleus. Three of which degenerate and only one become functional. During
germination outer wall of spore absorb water swells up and burst exposing inner layer as cylindrical
germ tube. The germ tube divides transversall to form two celled structure. Lower cell form rhizoids
and attached to substratum while upper cell divides repeatedly to form new filament. The filament
get detached from the substratum and become free floating Spirogyra.