ALGAL
TECHNOLOGY

Submitted By:
S. Afra Fathima,
I - M Sc Microbiology.

CHAROPHYTA

Definition:
Charophyceae, class of green algae (Division: Charophyta)
commonly found in fresh water.
Members can be unicellular, filamentous, colonial or
multicellular and plant like.
Many species have flagellated cells and store starch in
characteristic plastids.
It is commonly known as Stoneworts or Brittleworts.

Scientific Name:
Higher Classification: Plants
Rank: Phylum
Division: Charophyta
Kingdom: Plantae
Domain: Eukaryota

CLASSES OF CHAROPHYTA
Chlorokybales Klebsormidiales Coleochaetales
Charales Zygnematales

Chlorokybales:
Chlorokybales atmosphiticus is a rare soil
algae.
It is composed of small clusters of cells
(i.e., Sarcinoid).
It produces one zoospore per cell, with
two laterally inserted flagella associated
with a groove.
Unlike other charophytes that produce
zoospores.

Klebsormidiales:
• The Klebsormidiales (roughly 15 species) are fresh water or terrestrial
algae.
• It is composed of unbranched filaments that may dissociate into short
segments called hormogonia.
• They are common on rocks and concrete in moist climates.
• It can often be found forming a green film near drinking fountains,
hose spigots, and in permanently shaded areas.
Example: Klebsormidium sp.

Coleochaetales:
The Coleochaetales (roughly 30 species) are microscopic but structurally complex
algae found exclusively in freshwater.
They are composed of branched filaments, which may be arranged in a three-
dimensional cushion or two-dimensional disk.
Asexual reproduction is by the formation of zoospores.
Sexual reproduction in coleochaete is oogamous, and the zygote is retained on the
parental thallus.

Charales:
The Charales (roughly 300
species) are large, structurally
complex algae.
It is found primarily in fresh
water, but also in brackish, and
semi-terrestrial environments.
The size ranges from few
millimetres to over a meter in
length.
Internodes are unicellular.
Examples: - Chara braunii
- Nitella tenuissima
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

Zygnematales:
 The Zygnematales (roughly 3800
species) are either unbranched
filaments or unicellular.
 There are no flagella stages, but
some are capable of gliding mobility.
 Sexual reproduction occurs through
a process of conjugation.
Example: Spirogyra maxima

Characteristic Features:
The plant body shows very much complexity in their structure.
They remain attached with the substratum rhizoids.
The main axis is differentiated into Nodes and Internodes.
Each node bears a number of branches of limited growth and
sometimes single branches of unlimited growth.
The branches of limited growth are also differentiated into nodes and
internodes.
Each node bears both the sex organs (Nucule i.e., female & Globule
i.e., male) and secondary laterals.

Reproduction:
1. • Vegetative Reproduction
2. • Sexual Reproduction

Vegetative reproduction – takes place by means of
specialized star-like, tuber-like and protonema-like
structures.
Sexual reproduction – It is of oogamous type. The
Nucule is oval-shaped and very much protected,
which contains one egg and globule is round and
develops many antherozoids.
Zygote is produced after sexual reproduction. It
shows very much elaborate post-fertilization
changes.
During germination, zygote under meiosis and
gradually it forms the plant body of Chara.

References:
1.https://www.Britannica.com/science/Charophyceae
2.www.life.umd.edu/labs/delwiche/charophyte.html
3.www.biologydiscussion.com/algae/Chara-occurrence-features-and-reproduction/46890

THANK YOU
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY