Algae

Botany Notes

Created by Hrithik Bhuiya

 Algae is the most primitive and simplest division of the
plant kingdom. The study of algae is called Phycology.
The algae are chlorophyll containing primitive plants,
both prokaryotic and eukaryotic, with a wide range of
thalli starting from unicellular to multicellular
organizations.

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Criteria for classification of algae
● Pigments: amount and composition

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● External form: Shape, size and other structures
● Chromatophore shape: Cup, stellate, reticulate, discoid, spiral, gridle, etc
● Reserve food: Starch, oil and their chemical composition.
● Flagella: Structure, type, number, position, anatomy and insertion on body
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● Cell wall: Sub microscopic and chemical composition
● Chromosome: Number of chromosomes, arrangement, shape, etc
● Life history and reproduction: Type of life history, method of reproduction, shape of reproductive
bodies, and presence of sexual reproduction
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● Algal physiology: Different physiological details
● Ecological data: Freshwater, marine, etc
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School of thoughts
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Pascher 1914, 31: Smith 1933, 55: Papenfuss Fritsch 1935, 45 and followers
1946: Prescot 1969
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Algae should be divided into divisions and then Algae is itself division and should be divided into
classes (Phyta -> Phycae) classes (algae -> Phycae)

Different pigments and products of Chlorophyll-A, internal structures, reproduction,

photosynthesis assimilation same

Classification of F.E. Fritsch 1935

Classification on the basis of:-
 ● Pigmentation
● Chemical nature of food material
● flagellar arrangement
● Presence of organized nucleus
● Mode of reproduction

Divisions of algae (Fritsch 1935)

1.Class: Chlorophyceae (Green algae)
Order: Volvocales, Chlorocoles, Ulotrichales, Characters:

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Cladophorales, Chaetophorales,
Oedogoniales, Conjugales, Slyohonales, Mostly freshwater, few marine, terrestrial too

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Charales
Chlorophyll- A, B, Carotenoids and Xanthophyll
Ex: Chalmydomonas, Eudorina, Pandorina,
Ulotherix Pyrenoids present

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Food material Starch

Cell wall Cellulose

Unicellular and multicellular motile

B
Flagella present

Vegetative, sexual and asexual reproduction

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2.Class: Xanthohyache (Yellow green algae)

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Order: Heterochloridales, Heterococcales,

Characters:
Heterotrichales, Heterosiphonales
Ex: Botrydium argillaceum, Botrydium Mostly freshwater, few marine
becherianum, Tribonema
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Chlorophyll- A, E, beta-Carotenoids and Xanthophyll

Pyrenoids absent

Food material oil

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Cell wall Pectic compounds

Unicellular motile

Flagella present

Vegetative, sexual and asexual reproduction

3.Class: Chrysophyache (Golden algae)
Order:Chrysomonadales, Chrysosphaerales,
Chrysotrichales
Ex: Ochromonas, Chrysococcus,
Prymnesium
Characters:
Mostly freshwater, few marine
Chlorophyll- A, C, Carotenoids
Pyrenoids present

Food material Starch

Cell wall Cellulose and Silica

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Unicellular colonial

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2 Flagella present

Sexual and asexual reproduction

4.Class: Bacillariophyceae(Diatoms)
huCharacters:
B
Order: Centrales, Pennales
Mostly freshwater, few marine
Ex: Cyclotella, Isthmia, Rutilaria
Chlorophyll- A, Phycosin
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Pyrenoids present

Food material Fucosin, Fat, Chrysolaminarin

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Cell wall Silica or calcified

Unicellular colonial
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2 Flagella present

Sexual and vegetative reproduction

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5.Class: Cryptophyceae (Brown algae)
Characters:
Order: Cryptomonadales, Cryptococales
Ex: Cryptomonas, Chroomonas, Hemiselmis Both freshwater and marine

Chlorophyll- A, C, Xanthophylls

Pyrenoids like bodies present

Food material Starch, Oil

Cell wall absent

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Unicellular

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2 Flagella present

Sexual and asexual reproduction

6.Class: Dinophyceae
Order: Desmomnadales, Thecatales,
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Mostly marine, few freshwater

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Dinophysiales, Dinoflagellata, Dinococcales,
Dinotrichales
Chlorophyll- A, C, Beta-Carotene, Peridinin, Xanthophyll
Ex: Alexandrium, Ceratium, Dinophysis
Chromatophores present
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Food material Starch, Fat

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Cell wall Cellulose

Unicellular
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2 Flagella present

Sexual reproduction
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7.Class: Chloromonadineae Characters:
Order: Chloromonadales Freshwater
Ex: Gonyostomum semen, Viridilobus,
Fibrocapsa Xanthophylls

Pyrenoids absent

Food material Fat, Oil

Cell wall absent

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Unicellular

2 Flagella present

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Asexual and vegetative reproduction

8.Class: Euglenophyceae
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Characters:

Freshwater
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Order: Euglenales, Astasiacae,
Paranemaceae Chlorophyll- A, B, Beta-Carotene, astaxanthin, anthoxanthin,
Ex: Euglena, Phacus, Peranema diadinoxanthin, neoxanthin
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Pyrenoids present

Food material paramylon, polysaccharides

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Cell wall Proteinaceous

Unicellular
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1 to 2 Flagella present

Sexual, asexual and vegetative reproduction

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 Characters:
9.Class: Phaeophyceae (Brown algae)
Marine
Order: Ectocarpales, Tilopteridales,
Cutleriales, Sporochnales, Desmarestiales, Chlorophyll- A, C, Fucoxanthin, Carotene
Laminariales, Sphacelariales, Dictyotales,
Fucales Pyrenoids present
Ex: Gracilaria, Gelidium, Porphyra Food material Laminarin, mannitol, fats

Cell wall cellulose, alginic acid, Lucinic acid

Multicellular

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Flagella present

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Sexual reproduction

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10.Class: Rhodophyceae (Red algae)
Characters:
Order: Bangiales, Nemaliales, Gelidiales,
Rhodymeniales, Cryptonemiales, Marine
Ceramiales, Gigartinales
B
Chlorophyll- A, D, Xanthophylls, Carotene, r-Phycoerythrin,
Ex: Gracilaria, Gelidium, Porphyra r-Phycocyanin

Pyrenoids present
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Food material Starch

Cell wall Pectin and Cellulose

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Multicellular

Flagella absent
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Sexual reproduction
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11.Class: Myxophyceae (Blue Green algae)
Characters:
Order: Cryptomonadales, Cryptococales
Freshwater
Ex: Zygnema, Oedogonium, Rivularia
Chlorophyll- A, Beta-Carotene, C-Phycocyanin,
C-Phycoerythrin

Pyrenoids absent

Food material Starch, Proteins

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Cell wall Mucopeptide, amino acids, fatty acids,
carbohydrates

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Unicellular and multicellular

Flagella absent

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Asexual and Vegetative reproduction
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