Nephrocytium
Nephrocytium agardhianum
Scientific classification Edit this classification
(unranked): Viridiplantae
Division: Chlorophyta
Class: Chlorophyceae
Order: Sphaeropleales
Family: Nephrocytiaceae
T.S.Garcia, Bagatini & Štenclová
Genus: Nephrocytium
Nägeli, 1849
Type species
Nephrocytium agardhianum
Nägeli, 1849
Species
  • Nephrocytium agardhianum
  • Nephrocytium limneticum
  • Nephrocytium lunaris
  • Nephrocytium lunatum

Nephrocytium is a genus of green algae in the class Chlorophyceae. Formerly placed in the family Oocystaceae, it is currently placed in its own family, Nephrocytiaceae.[1]

Description

Nephrocytium consists of colonies of 4, 8, or 16 asymmetrical cells surrounded by a spherical to ovoid layer of mucilage, which is formed when the mother cell wall expands and gelatinizes. Individual cells are kidney-shaped to ovoid, containing one chloroplast lining the inside of the cell membrane, each with one pyrenoid.[2]

Reproduction occurs asexually; sexual reproduction is unknown in Ankistrodesmus. It exclusively forms autospores, and does not appear to have a flagellated stage in its life cycle.[1]

Identification

Similar genera include Nephrochlamys and Juranyiella; Nephrochlamys differs in having cells that lack pyrenoids, while Juranyiella has granules dotted on the cell wall surface.[3]

Species are distinguished mainly by the shape of the cells (particularly at their apices), cell sizes, and length-to-width ratios. However, cells enlarge during their life cycle, which must be taken into account while identifying Nephrocytium species.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Silva, Thaís Garcia; Štenclová, Lenka; Archanjo, Naiara Carolina Pereira; Bagatini, Inessa Lacativa (2021). "Revised phylogenetic position of Nephrocytium Nägeli (Sphaeropleales, Chlorophyceae), with the description of Nephrocytiaceae fam. nov. and Nephrocytium vieirae sp. nov". Taxon. 70 (5): 917–930. doi:10.1002/tax.12560. S2CID 239685638.
  2. ↑ Shubert, Elliot; Gärtner, Georg (2014). "Chapter 7. Nonmotile Coccoid and Colonial Green Algae". In Wehr, John D.; Sheath, Robert G.; Kociolek, J. Patrick (eds.). Freshwater Algae of North America: Ecology and Classification (2 ed.). Elsevier Inc. ISBN 978-0-12-385876-4.
  3. ↑ G. Dillard (17 Aug 2004). "Nephrocytium Genus detail". AlgaeBase. Retrieved 2007-09-19.


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