Raphidocelis is a genus of green algae in the family Selenastraceae.[2] They are found in freshwater habitats.[3]
| Raphidocelis | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Clade: | Viridiplantae |
| Division: | Chlorophyta |
| Class: | Chlorophyceae |
| Order: | Sphaeropleales |
| Family: | Selenastraceae |
| Genus: | Raphidocelis Hindák |
| Type species | |
| Raphidocelis sigmoidea Hindák | |
| Species[1] | |
| |
One species, Raphidocelis subcapitata, is a common model organism in the field of toxicology, where it is used as a bioassay. It was previously known as Selenastrum capricornutum, a name later shown to be incorrect.[4]
Description
editRaphidocelis consists of solitary cells or of colonies of cells within a thin layer of mucilage. Cells are crescent-shaped, with pointed ends that may be twisted out of the plane of the cell. Each cell contains a single parietal chloroplast filling the cell.[3] Raphidocelis is sometimes reported as lacking a pyrenoid; it does indeed contain one, although it is not covered in layer of starch grains making it often difficult to observe under the light microscope.[4]
Raphidocelis reproduces asexually by autospores; zoospores and sexual reproduction have not been observed in this genus.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b Guiry, M.D.; Guiry, G.M. "Raphidocelis". AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
- ^ See the NCBI webpage on Raphidocelis. Data extracted from the "NCBI taxonomy resources". National Center for Biotechnology Information. Retrieved 2007-03-19.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ a b Krienitz, Lothar; Bock, Christina; Nozaki, Hisayoshi; Wolf, Matthias (2011). "SSU rRNA gene phylogeny of morphospecies affiliated to the bioassay alga "Selenastrum capricornutum" recovered the polyphyletic origin of crescent-shaped Chlorophyta". Journal of Phycology. 47 (4): 880–893. doi:10.1111/j.1529-8817.2011.01010.x. PMID 27020023. S2CID 1291369.
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