Life-Cycles in Algae 67

GAMETOPHYTIC
PLANT
(X)
Germination
Gametangia
(x)
Meiospore
(x) HAPLONTIC
LIFE–CYCLE Gametes
(x) (x)
A

MEIOSIS
SYNGAMY

Zygote
(2 x)
o thal lic gametophy te ( ametophytic plan
Hom x) ale g t (x
Fem am e t o p h y t i
e g c pl )
l an
Ma t
HAPLONTIC HAPLONTIC

(x)
LIFE–CYCLE LIFE–CYCLE
(Homothallic species) (Heterothallic
B species)
x)

C
s(

Ga )
(x
ore

m s
(x etes e
or Ga
SY
sp

sp
SIS

) SYNGAMY
m
eio

IS
NG

e i o (x etes
OS
M

IO

M )
AM

EI
ME

Zygote
Y

Zygote
(2 x)
(2 x)

Fig. 9.1 A–C. A, Graphic sketch of a haplontic life-cycle; B–C, Diagrammatic life-cycles of homothallic species of
Oedogonium and heterothallic species of Chlamydomonas and Ulothrix.

mitotically. There is no reduction division in the zygote. diploid or sporophytic in nature. Because both these game-
Copyright © 2011. Tata McGraw-Hill. All rights reserved.

The plant body, so formed, is thus sporophytic in nature.
It is evident from such a life-cycle that all the stages are
diploid, except the only stage of the formation of haploid
gametes. The latter also soon unite and fuse to form a dip-
loid zygote. Therefore, the dominant parts of the life-cycle
are occupied by the diploid stages, and hence it is called
diplontic life-cycle (Fig. 9.2).
According to Fritsch (1935) the diplontic life-cycle
must have been originated by “the prolongation of the
diploid zygote stage”. According to him, such a prolonga-
tion of diploid stage “is not uncommon among some of the
motile unicellular green algae”.
9.4 DIPLOHAPLONTIC LIFE-CYCLE
There are present two distinct vegetative individuals, of
which one is haploid or gametophytic and the other is
tophytic and sporophytic generations come alternately,
the plants with such life-cycles show clear alternation of
generations. Because of the presence of one diploid and
one haploid individuals, such life-cycles are called diplo-
haplontic life-cycles. These are of two categories as dis-
cussed below:
9.4.1 Isomorphic Diplohaplontic
Life-Cycle
When both the diploid and haploid vegetative plants are
morphologically similar (= isomorphic) and come alter-
nately in the life-cycle, such a life-cycle is called isomorphic
diplohaplontic type. It is shown by genera like Cladophora,
Ulva, Ectocarpus, etc. It has been variously named homol-
ogous diplohaplontic type, homomorphous diplohaplontic
type or isomorphic alternation of generations.

SHARMA, O P. Algae, Tata McGraw-Hill, 2011. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/inflibnet-ebooks/detail.action?docID=5121388.

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