Neochloris
Genus of algae
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Neochloris is a genus of green algae in the family Neochloridaceae.[1] It is found in freshwater aquatic and terrestrial soil habitats.[2]
| Neochloris | |
|---|---|
| |
| Neochloris aquatica | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Chlorophyta |
| Class: | Chlorophyceae |
| Order: | Sphaeropleales |
| Family: | Neochloridaceae |
| Genus: | Neochloris R.C.Starr, 1955 |
| Type species | |
| Neochloris aquatica R.C.Starr | |
| Species[1] | |
| |
Description
Neochloris consists of spherical cells that are solitary or sometimes found in small clusters. The cell wall is thin and smooth. Cells are multinucleate (with multiple nuclei).[3] Each cell has a single parietal chloroplast with one to several pyrenoids.[2]
Neochloris reproduces asexually. Reproduction occurs via aplanospores or zoospores. Zoospores bear two flagella; upon spore germination, the zoospore loses its flagella and becomes spherical.[4]
Taxonomy
Neochloris was first described by Richard C. Starr in 1955 with a single species Neochloris aquatica, with more species being added by later authors. However, the genus in this circumscription was polyphyletic.[3] Species once placed in Neochloris have now been placed in two segregate genera, Ettlia and Parietochloris.[3]
Ettlia and Parietochloris differ from Neochloris in being uninucleate while Neochloris sensu stricto contains multinucleate cells.[3] Additional features of the flagellar apparatus are visible in ultrastructure as well. The basal bodies of the zoospore flagella in Neochloris are arranged directly opposite to each other,[3] those of Ettlia are arranged in a clockwise orientation, and those of Parietochloris are arranged in a counterclockwise orientation.[3]
Ecology
The species Neochloris aquatica may have potential as a biological control agent against mosquitoes, specifically Culex quinquefasciatus.[5]