Deuterocharacium

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
Scientific classification Edit this classification
(unranked): Viridiplantae
Division: Chlorophyta
Class: Chlorophyceae
Order: Sphaeropleales
Family: Characiaceae
Genus: Deuterocharacium
Petrý, 1969
Type species
Deuterocharacium polyplastidicum
Species[1]
  • Deuterocharacium fallax
  • Deuterocharacium polyplastidicum

Description

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 wall, 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]

Identification

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]

References
  1. Guiry, M.D.; Guiry, G.M. "Deuterocharacium". AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  2. Komárek, J.; Fott, B. (1983). Chlorophyceae (Grünalgen), Ordnung Chlorococcales. Das Phytoplankton des Süßwassers (in German). E. Schweizerbart'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung. p. 1044.
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