Sorastrum
| Sorastrum | |
|---|---|
| |
| Sorastrum spinulosum | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| (unranked): | Viridiplantae |
| Division: | Chlorophyta |
| Class: | Chlorophyceae |
| Order: | Sphaeropleales |
| Family: | Hydrodictyaceae |
| Genus: | Sorastrum Kützing |
| Species | |
Sorastrum is a genus of green algae in the family Hydrodictyaceae.[1] It is a component of the phytoplankton of freshwater ponds, lakes, and ditches. Sorastrum is common in tropical to temperate regions of the world,[2] but due to its small size it is often overlooked.[3]
Description[edit]
Sorastrum forms spherical colonies of 8 to 128 cells.[4] Individual cells are kidney-shaped, pear-shaped, or wedge-shaped, or spherical (in Sorastrum sphericum)[3] and attached to a central body of mucilage via gelatinous strands. On each cell there are two to four outwardly pointing spines. Each cell contains a single chloroplast with a one pyrenoid.[5]
Identification of species depends on the size and shape of the cells, particularly the spines.[2]
Reproduction[edit]
Reproduction occurs asexually, by zoospores. Zoospores have two flagella each and are formed by the repeated division of the protoplast. Once divided, the zoospores are released from a tear in the mother cell wall. Sexual reproduction has not been observed in Sorastrum, but is presumed to be similar to that of Hydrodictyon and Pediastrum.[2]
References[edit]
- ^ See the NCBI webpage on Sorastrum. Data extracted from the "NCBI taxonomy resources". National Center for Biotechnology Information. Retrieved 2007-03-19.
- ^ a b c Guiry, M.D.; Guiry, G.M. "Sorastrum". AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. Retrieved 2023-05-23.
- ^ a b Keshri, Jai Prakash; Mallick, Prasant (2013). "The genus Sorastrum Kützing (Hydrodictyaceae, Sphaeropleales, Chlorophyta) from India, with a new species S. philiposianum". Bangladesh Journal of Plant Taxonomy. 20 (2): 243–249. doi:10.3329/bjpt.v20i2.17399.
- ^ Bicudo, Carlos E. M.; Menezes, Mariângela (2006). Gêneros de Algas de Águas Continentais do Brasil: chave para identificação e descrições (2 ed.). RiMa Editora. p. 508. ISBN 857656064X.
- ^ Shubert, Elliot; Gärtner, Georg (2014). "Chapter 7. Nonmotile Coccoid and Colonial Green Algae". In Wehr, John D.; Sheath, Robert G.; Kociolek, J. Patrick (eds.). Freshwater Algae of North America: Ecology and Classification (2 ed.). Elsevier Inc. ISBN 978-0-12-385876-4.
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