Pseudomuriella
Genus of algae
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pseudomuriella is a genus of green algae in the class Chlorophyceae. It is the sole genus of the family Pseudomuriellaceae.[1] It is a terrestrial alga that inhabits soils.[4]
| Pseudomuriella | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Clade: | Archaeplastida |
| Clade: | Viridiplantae |
| Division: | Chlorophyta |
| Class: | Chlorophyceae |
| Order: | Sphaeropleales |
| Family: | Pseudomuriellaceae Fučíková, P.O.Lewis & L.A.Lewis |
| Genus: | Pseudomuriella N.Hanagata, 1998[1][2] |
| Type species | |
| Pseudomuriella aurantiaca (W.Vischer) N.Hanagata[1] | |
| Species | |
Description
Pseudomuriella consists of solitary, spheroidal cells surrounded by a smooth cell wall. Young cells have a single nucleus, but mature cells have nuclei (i.e. are multinucleate). Each cell has multiple chloroplasts lining the outside of the cell; each chloroplast is saucer-shaped when young and divided into multiple segments when older. Chloroplasts lack pyrenoids.[3] Cells may have secondary carotenoids present, giving the cells an orange color especially when old.[3] Pseudomuriella reproduces asexually, mainly by autospores,[3] but sometimes by aplanospores or biflagellated zoospores as well.[4]
Morphologically, the genus is essentially indistinguishable from Bracteacoccus and Chromochloris, although Pseudomuriella seems to reproduce mostly by autospores.[3] Molecular data is necessary for a reliable identification.[5]
