Dimorphococcus
Genus of algae
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dimorphococcus is a genus of fresh water green algae in the family Scenedesmaceae.[2] It is found as a component of the phytoplankton of freshwater ponds, lakes, and peat bogs. It is widespread, but usually not very common.[1]
| Dimorphococcus | |
|---|---|
| |
| Dimorphococcus lunatus | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Chlorophyta |
| Class: | Chlorophyceae |
| Order: | Sphaeropleales |
| Family: | Scenedesmaceae |
| Genus: | Dimorphococcus Braun |
| Type species | |
| Dimorphococcus lunatus Braun[1] | |
| Species | |
| |
Dimorphococcus is usually found in small colonies of multiples of four cells, surrounded by a gelatinous mass. Groups of four cells are further attached to each other via mucilaginous strands, which are the remnants of the mother cell wall.[3] Cells are kidney-shaped to heart-shaped, 10–25 μm long and 3–8(–15) μm wide. Each cell is uninucleate (containing one nucleus) and has one parietal chloroplast each with one or more pyrenoids.[1]
Dimorphococcus reproduces asexually via autospores, with four spores produced per mother cell. Autospores are released through a lateral tear in the mother cell wall. After release, the empty cell wall gradually dissolves.[1]
Taxonomy
Currently, Dimorphococcus is placed in the family Scenedesmaceae, according to molecular phylogenetic analyses.[4]
One species, Dimorphococcus fritschii, is of uncertain status. The phycologist Chin Chih Jao considered it to have a different structure than other species of Dimorphococcus; accordingly, he placed it into a new genus, Dimorphococcopsis. The species has not been re-investigated and it is possible that the original placement was correct.[5]
