, Division – Algae (Thallophyta)
Habitat: freshwater, sea water, on snow, on rocks, and on or
within the plant and animal bodies.
Body: chlorophyll-bearing, does not differentiated in to root stem
and leaves.
Morphology (thallus structure)
Variable forms (spherical, filamentous, ), Size; variable (from one
micron to several meters) and organization (unicellular to
multicellular).
Cell Wall :
Composed of pure or mixed carbohydrates (Cellulose, mucilage,
pectin etc.). Alginin or Alginic acid and hemicellulose (brown
algae), pectin (red algae), silica in (diatoms).
Algae are covered with mucilage (protects from desiccation,
epiphytic growth).
, Flagella
Flagella is found in Vegetative/ reproductive motile cells.
The number of flagella varies (1-4).
They are of two types.
1. Tinsel/ pleuronematic flagella - surface of these
flagella is covered with fine filamentous appendages.
2. Whiplash/ acronematic flagella : have a smooth surface.
Pigments
Combination pigments, gives a characteristic color to algae.
The various types of pigments found in algal cell are:
a) Chlorophyll: Ch-a, Ch-b
b) Xanthophyll (yellow pigments)
c) Carotenoid: carotene+ xanthophyll (yellow, orange, and red)
d) Phycobilins : Phycobilins are red (Phycoerythrin) and blue
(phycocyanin) pigments which are confined to Rhodophyceae, and
cyanophyceae respectively.
Habitat: freshwater, sea water, on snow, on rocks, and on or
within the plant and animal bodies.
Body: chlorophyll-bearing, does not differentiated in to root stem
and leaves.
Morphology (thallus structure)
Variable forms (spherical, filamentous, ), Size; variable (from one
micron to several meters) and organization (unicellular to
multicellular).
Cell Wall :
Composed of pure or mixed carbohydrates (Cellulose, mucilage,
pectin etc.). Alginin or Alginic acid and hemicellulose (brown
algae), pectin (red algae), silica in (diatoms).
Algae are covered with mucilage (protects from desiccation,
epiphytic growth).
, Flagella
Flagella is found in Vegetative/ reproductive motile cells.
The number of flagella varies (1-4).
They are of two types.
1. Tinsel/ pleuronematic flagella - surface of these
flagella is covered with fine filamentous appendages.
2. Whiplash/ acronematic flagella : have a smooth surface.
Pigments
Combination pigments, gives a characteristic color to algae.
The various types of pigments found in algal cell are:
a) Chlorophyll: Ch-a, Ch-b
b) Xanthophyll (yellow pigments)
c) Carotenoid: carotene+ xanthophyll (yellow, orange, and red)
d) Phycobilins : Phycobilins are red (Phycoerythrin) and blue
(phycocyanin) pigments which are confined to Rhodophyceae, and
cyanophyceae respectively.
