Pediastrum

Pediastrum
Pediastrum duplex
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Protista
Division: Chlorophyta
Class: Chlorophyceae
Order: Chlorococcales
Family: Hydrodictyaceae
Genus: Pediastrum
Meyen, 1829
Type species
Pediastrum duplex
Species[1]
  • P. angulosum
  • P. bijuga
  • P. biradiatum
  • P. boryanum
  • P. braunii
  • P. conchense
  • P. contiguum
  • P. duplex
  • P. ellipticum
  • P. gracillimum
  • P. integrum
  • P. orbitale
  • P. simplex
  • P. tricyclium
Pediastrum boryanum

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.

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.

References

  1. 1 2 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.

External links

Scientific references

Scientific databases

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