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Spirogyra

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other uses, see Spirogyra (disambiguation). For the other genus of algae called blanket weed, see Cladophora.

Spirogyra
Spirogyra with its characteristic helically arranged chloroplasts
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Clade: Viridiplantae
(unranked): Charophyta
Class: Zygnematophyceae
Order: Zygnematales
Family: Zygnemataceae
Genus: Spirogyra
Link in C. G. Nees, 1820
Type species
Spirogyra porticalis
(O. F. Müller) Dumortier
Species

Over 400; see text

Synonyms
  • Conjugata Vaucher, 1803[1]
  • Jugalis Schrank, 1814[2]

Spirogyra (common names include water silk, mermaid's tresses, and blanket weed) is a genus of filamentous charophyte green algae of the order Zygnematales, named for the helical or spiral arrangement of the chloroplasts that is characteristic of the genus. Spirogyra species, of which there are more than 400, are commonly found in freshwater habitats.[3] Spirogyra measures approximately 10 to 100 micrometres in width and may grow to several centimetres in length. It is often observed as green slimy patches on the ground near ponds and other water bodies having stagnant water.

General characteristics

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Spirogyra is very common in relatively clear eutrophic water, developing slimy filamentous green masses. In spring Spirogyra grows under water, but when there is enough sunlight and warmth they produce large amounts of oxygen, adhering as bubbles between the tangled filaments. The filamentous masses come to the surface and become visible as slimy green mats. Spirogyra has a cell wall, nucleus, pyrenoid, and spiral chloroplasts.

Reproduction

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The freshwater alga Spirogyra

Spirogyra can reproduce both sexually and asexually.[4] In vegetative reproduction, fragmentation takes place, and Spirogyra simply undergoes intercalary cell division to extend the length of the new filaments.

Sexual reproduction is of two types:

  1. Scalariform conjugation requires association of two or more different filaments lined side by side, either partially or throughout their length. One cell each from opposite lined filaments emits tubular protuberances known as conjugation tubes, which elongate and fuse to make a passage called the conjugation canal. The cytoplasm of the cell acting as the male travels through this tube and fuses with the female cytoplasm, and the gametes fuse to form a zygospore.
  2. In lateral conjugation, gametes are formed in a single filament. Two adjoining cells near the common transverse wall give out protuberances known as conjugation tubes, which further form the conjugation canal upon contact. The male cytoplasm migrates through the conjugation canal, fusing with the female. The rest of the process proceeds as in scalariform conjugation.

The essential difference is that scalariform conjugation occurs between two filaments and lateral conjugation occurs between two adjacent cells on the same filament.

Species

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The following species are currently accepted:[5]

Trivia

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American jazz fusion band Spyro Gyra was named after this genus of algae.

It is also the subject of the Brazilian Samba rock song "Spirogyra story" by Jorge Ben.[6]

[edit]
  • Spirogyra
    Spirogyra
  • Spirogyra
    Spirogyra
  • Single Spirogyra cell
    Single Spirogyra cell
  • Spirogyra (Each numbered tick = 122 μm)
    Spirogyra (Each numbered tick = 122 μm)
  • Spirogyra (Each numbered tick = 20 μm)
    Spirogyra (Each numbered tick = 20 μm)
  • Patch of Spirogyra from algal blooming in Westfalian pond
    Patch of Spirogyra from algal blooming in Westfalian pond
  • Spirogyra algal bloom in Romanian pond
    Spirogyra algal bloom in Romanian pond

References

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Spirogyra.
  1. ^ "Algaebase, entry for Conjugata". Retrieved 20 February 2016.
  2. ^ "Algaebase, entry for Jugalis". Retrieved 20 February 2016.
  3. ^ Jan Parmentier. "Spirogyra". Microscopy UK.
  4. ^ Transeau, E. N. (1951). The Zygnemataceae (fresh-water conjugate algae) with keys for the identification of genera and species, and seven hundred eighty-nine illustrations. Columbus, Ohio: Ohio State University Press. pp. 123–230. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.10220.
  5. ^ AlgaeBase entry for Spirogyra
  6. ^ "UMA HISTÓRIA QUE GIRA EM TORNO DE UMA ALGA" (PDF) (in Portuguese).
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