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 
| |
| Clade: | Viridiplantae |
| Division: | Chlorophyta |
| Class: | Chlorophyceae |
| Order: | Sphaeropleales |
| Family: | Characiaceae |
| Genus: | Deuterocharacium Petrý, 1969 |
| Type species | |
| Deuterocharacium polyplastidicum | |
| Species[1] | |
Description
editDeuterocharacium 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 membrane, 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
editSimilar 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
edit- ^ a b c d e f Guiry, M.D.; Guiry, G.M. "Deuterocharacium". AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
- ^ a b 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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