Range of thallus organization

in Algae

Prof. Gauri Rane

P. G. Research Centre Dept. of
Botany
M. J. College, Jalgaon
Range of thallus organization in Algae
1)Unicellular Motile (Flagelloid) Forms:
The unicellular motile forms are the simplest
type of thallus in algae. The flagellated
unicellular forms are seen in various classes
of algae. The flagellated unicelled structures
are distinctive of certain classes e.g.,
Euglenineae, Cryptophyceae, Chrysophyceae
and Dinophyceae. Flagellated vegetative cells
are absent in Cyanophyceae, Phaeophyceae,
Rhodophyceae, Bacillariophyceae. The
unicellular plant body may be spherical,
oblong or pear-shaped and sometimes
elongated and approximately circular in cross
section.Eg. Chlamydomonas, Chlorogonium,
Ochromonas, Chromulina
2) Unicellular Non-motile (Protococcoidal)
Forms:
These cells do not possess flagella, eyespot
etc., meant for locomotion. (e.g., Chlorella,
Chlorococcus).
Unicellular non-flagellated cells show many
morphological variations e.g.,
Bacillariophyceae (Diatoms), in many
Chlorophyceae (Chlorellti, Cosmarium)
Cyanophyceae (Synechococcus), and in some
forms of Xanthophyceae, Dinophyceae and
Rhodophyceae (Porpliyridium).
They are simple spherical or elongated cells
e.g., Microcystis, Cylindrocystis, Pinnularia
(Bacillariophyceae); triangular as in
Tetragonidium (Cryptophyceae) and
Triceratium (Bacillariophyceae). The epiphytic
or attached forms have a basal disc
3) Colonial Forms:
A further evolution of the unicellular types from
occasional and indefinite type of colony like structures—
with independent individual cells inside it to a well-
defined colony prasinocladus with interlinks among the
cells results in a true colonial habit.
Here varying numbers of unicells aggregate together in
different ways, often within a mucous envelope. Colonial
forms are seen among Chlorophyceae. Chrysophyceae,
Bacillariophyceae, Dinophyceae, Xanthophyceae etc. The
colony may be (a) motile or (b) non-motile.
(a) Motile Colonial Forms:
Motile flagellated cells aggregate
together to form motile colonies.
Colonies vary in shape and size and
in the number of cells.
The movement of the colony is
effected by the conjoint and uniform
flagellar action by all the cells. In
Chlorophyceae, the colony is made
up of Chlamydomonas like cells and
the cells arc arranged just below the
mucilaginous surface. The colonies
are either “plate-like” (e.g.,
Gonium) or spherical (e.g., Volvox).
The cells may be connected by
cytoplasmic strands, (e.g..
Volvox). Though in the majority
of cases all the individual cells
are alike, a few forms have some
larger cells for reproductive
functions; the rest of the cells
being purely vegetative (e.g.,
Volvox) Mostly they are coenobia
(sing, coenobium) i.e., colonics
composed of definite number of
cells arranged in a defined
manner.
(b) Non-Motile Colony:
Aggregations of non-motile
cells in the form of a colony
(non-motile) are common only
in Chlorophyceae. Here the
cells are, more or less, fused
together (e.g., Hydrodictyon). It
may be plate like e.g..
Scenedesmus or net-like as in
Hydrodictyon.
Non Motile- Palmelloid:
In contrast to coenobial forms, in a
palmelloid colony the number of
cells, their shape and size is not
definite. The cells remain
irregularly aggregated within a
common mucilaginous matrix, but
they are independent and function as
individuals. In some palmelloid
forms it is a temporary phase (e.g.
Chlamydomonas), whereas in others
it is a permanent feature (e.g.,
Tetraspora)
Non Motile- Dendroid:
The colony appears like a
microscopic tree. The number, shape
and size of cells is indefinite and a
mucilaginous thread is present at the
base of each cell. Threads of
different cells are united to form a
branched structure (e.g.,
Ecballocystis).
4. Filamentous Forms:

A further development would involve a more closely

knit structure, i.e., the division of the single cell into
many daughter cells with septa between the divided
cells and common lateral walls derived from the mother
cell.
If the plane of cell division is transverse to the long axis
of the thallus i.e., elongation followed by division, a
filamentous type of construction would be formed. This
type of multicellular thallus organization is seen in the
filamentous types, common to most of the algae. Under
the filamentous habit several types are possible.
Filaments may be branched or un-branched.
(i) Un-branched Filaments:

Simple un-branched filaments are found in

many forms. They are either free-living e.g.,
Spirogyra or attached, at least initially e.g.,
Oedogonium or aggregated in colonies e.g.,
Nostoc
In many Cyanophyceae it consists merely of a
row of cells connected closely (e.g.,
Oscillatoria). In the simpler forms e.g.,
Ulothrix, Spirogyra, there is no division of
labour. The cells are all alike, structurally and
functionally, may take part in growth and cell
division and in reproduction. The cells of
filaments may be uninucleate (e.g., Spirogyra)
or multinucleate (e.g., Cladophora).
(ii) Branched Filaments:
Branched filamentous structures may be put into three
categori es:
(i) Simple,
(ii) Heterotrichous
(iii) Pseudoparenchymatous.
They are put according to the shape and nature of the
thalli, a result of different types of cell behaviour
concerning growth and division.
(i) Branched Simple:
A simple branched filament with single
row of cells and a basal attaching ceil,
holdfast or hapteron is common with
many types e.g., Ulothrix, Oedogonium
In many, the branches arise immediately
below the cross walls, and the growth and
divisions are restricted to the end-cells of
the branches e.g., Cladophora. Simple
branched filaments are also seen in
Xanthophyceae, Chrysophyceae. A
peculiar form of branching, known as
„false‟-branching is observed in
Cyanophyceae e.g., Scytonema.
(ii) Heterotrichous:
This most highly evolved type of plant-body,
showing a good amount of division of labour, is
characteristic of the Chaetophorales among
Chlorophyceae, in many Phaeophyceae,
Rhodophyceae, in some Chrysophyceae and
Dinophyceae (e.g., Dinoclonium).
The plant-body consists of two distinct parts:
(1) A basal or prostrate creeping system, and
(2) An erect or upright system.
The prostrate system is attached to some
substratum, grows apically and gives rise to
numerous photosynthetic and rhizoidal
filaments. Rhizoidal filaments sometimes
penetrate the substratum (e.g., Fritschiella). The
erect system develops from the prostrate system
and is composed of one or more and usually
branched photosynthetic filaments.
(iii) Pseudoparenchymatous forms:
As indicated by the term „pseudo‟ = false, the plant
body gives the appearance of parenchymatous
construction. Parenchyma is a tissue composed of thin
walled closely associated cells which has arisen by the
division of a common parent cell. Whereas the
pseudoparenchymatous structure is a secondary
development, close association of cells is a result of
interweaving of filaments.
Through the establishment of secondary intercellular
connections the cells of pseudoparenchymatous algae
may be densely packed and firmly coherent (e.g.,
Dumontia, Rhodophyceae) or, the association may be
loose and the component filaments can easily be
separated by pressure (e.g., Castanea, Phaeophyceae).
Pseudoparenchymatous thallus
Two types are recognised in the
construction of the
pseudoparenchymatous thallus.
The body may have (1) a single
colourless central axial filament
(uniaxial construction) or (2)
many filaments (multi-axial)
around which photosynthetic
filaments are supported
The uniaxial construction in
simple form showing clearly the
filamentous nature as seen in
Batrachospermum
Multi-axial construction is seen in
Polysiphonia.It is interesting to note
that in many forms, such types of
constructions can be traced to a
primary heterotrichous condition in the
ontogeny of the thallus, one or many
threads uni- or multi- of the erect
system taking part in the production of
the mature thallus.
Secondary filamentous structures also
develop in many genera either
externally or internally.
Such internal filaments by close
association give a solid core like
structure in many forms. Secondary
external filaments (cortication) in
many cases increase the thickness of
the primary thallus (e.g.,
Desmarestia). Besides giving
rigidity to the body they play a
considerable role in the formation of
attaching discs (Fucales) and
branched haptera (Laminariales) in
many parenchymatous forms.
5. Siphonaceous Forms:
In a number of algae, belonging to
Siphonales e.g., in Vaucheria, Botrydium,
the growth of the plant body takes place
without the usual cross-wall formation
except during formation of reproductive
organs. Thus a „tube‟-like multinucleate
structure, or a coenocyte, is produced.
This structure is interpreted as a
multinucleate or coenocyte cell by some
and as acellular by others. The simplest
organization is in the form of a small un-
branched vesicle. It contains a central
vacuole with chloroplasts and nuclei in the
peripheral cytoplasm.
It is anchored by branching rhizoids (e.g., Botrydium). An
irregular branching system with rhizoids or haptera and
occasional septa formation in cutting off old siphons
andcytopia reproductive organs is found in Vaucheria
6. Parenchymatous Forms:
Parenchymatous thallus organization also
is a modification of the filamentous habit,
with cell division in more than one plane.
Depending upon the nature of cell division,
the parenchymatous thalli may be „leaf-
like‟ or foliose, tubular or highly
developed structure.
Flat, foliose or tubular thalli are formed by
the division of the cells two or three planes.
Common examples of flat and foliose
structures in Viva (Chlorophyceae),
Punctaria (Phaeophyceae) and Porphyra
(Rhodophyceae).