Spirogyra

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Spirogyra
Spirogyra.JPG
Spirogyra with its characteristic helically arranged chloroplasts
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Class: Zygnematophyceae
Order: Zygnematales
Family: Zygnemataceae
Genus: Spirogyra
Link in C. G. Nees, 1820
Type species
Spirogyra porticalis
(O. F. Müller) Dumortier
Species

Over 400; see text

Synonyms
  • ConjugataVaucher, 1803 [1]
  • JugalisSchrank, 1814 [2]

Spirogyra (common names include water silk, mermaid's tresses, and blanket weed) is a genus of filamentous charophyte green algae of the order Zygnematales, named for the helical or spiral arrangement of the chloroplasts that is characteristic of the genus. Spirogyra species, of which there are more than 500, are commonly found in freshwater habitats. [3] Spirogyra measures approximately 10 to 150 micrometres in width (though not usually more than 60) and may grow to several centimetres in length. [4] [5]

Contents

Distribution

Spirogyra can be found on every continent on Earth, including Antarctica. It is freshwater algae, found in rivers, ponds, and other such bodies of water. [6]

Taxonomy

The genus Spirogyra was named by German naturalist Johann Heinrich Friedrich Link in 1820. The lectotype, Spirogyraporticalis was designated in 1952 by Paul C. Silvia. [7]

Reproduction

The freshwater alga Spirogyra The freshwater alga Spirogyra.jpg
The freshwater alga Spirogyra

Spirogyra can reproduce both sexually and asexually. [8] In vegetative reproduction, fragmentation takes place, and Spirogyra simply undergoes intercalary cell division to extend the length of the new filaments. [9]

Sexual reproduction is of two types:

  1. Scalariform conjugation requires association of two or more different filaments lined side by side, either partially or throughout their length. One cell each from opposite lined filaments emits tubular protuberances known as conjugation tubes, which elongate and fuse to make a passage called the conjugation canal. The cytoplasm of the cell acting as the male travels through this tube and fuses with the female cytoplasm, and the gametes fuse to form a zygospore.
  2. In lateral conjugation, gametes are formed in a single filament. Two adjoining cells near the common transverse wall give out protuberances known as conjugation tubes, which further form the conjugation canal upon contact. The male cytoplasm migrates through the conjugation canal, fusing with the female. The rest of the process proceeds as in scalariform conjugation.

The essential difference is that scalariform conjugation occurs between two filaments and lateral conjugation occurs between two adjacent cells on the same filament.

Usage

Spirogyra species are being researched for their potential in bioremediation. Specifically, in stemming toxic runoff from mines (where they are often found occurring naturally) [10] and from municipal wastewater. [11] Spirogyra has also been investigated as a potential biofuel. [11]

Spirogyra species, such as S. varians, are also being researched for potential pharmaceutical usage due to their high nutrient densities. [12]

Species

The following species are currently accepted. For a more comprehensive and up-to-date list of currently accepted species, view the pages on AlgaeBase or WoRMS.

Trivia

American jazz fusion band Spyro Gyra was named after this genus of algae.

It is also the subject of the Brazilian Samba rock song "Spirogyra story" by Jorge Ben. [13]

References

  1. ↑ "Algaebase, entry for Conjugata" . Retrieved 20 February 2016.
  2. ↑ "Algaebase, entry for Jugalis" . Retrieved 20 February 2016.
  3. ↑ Jan Parmentier. "Spirogyra". Microscopy UK.
  4. ↑ Kim, Jee-Hwan; Kim, Young Hwan; Lee, In Kyu (2004). "Morphotaxonomy of the Genus Spirogyra (Zygnematacae, Clorophyta) in Korea" (PDF). Algae. 19 (2): 91–105. doi:10.4490/ALGAE.2004.19.2.091.
  5. ↑ Christova, Rosalina; Hall, John D.; McCourt, Richard; Sheath, Robert G. (June 2013). "Identity and phylogenetic placement of Spirogyra species (Zygnematophyceae, Charophyta) from California streams and elsewhere". Journal of Phycology. 49 (3): 588–607. doi:10.1111/jpy.12070. PMID   27007047.
  6. ↑ Takano, Tomoyuki; et al. (2019). "Identification of 13 Spirogyra species (Zygnemataceae) by traits of sexual reproduction induced under laboratory culture conditions" (PDF). Scientific Reports. 9 (1): 7458. Bibcode:2019NatSR...9.7458T. doi:10.1038/s41598-019-43454-6. PMC   6533312 . PMID   31123266.
  7. ↑ Spirogyra page, AlgaeBase.
  8. ↑ Transeau, E. N. (1951). The Zygnemataceae (fresh-water conjugate algae) with keys for the identification of genera and species, and seven hundred eighty-nine illustrations. Columbus, Ohio: Ohio State University Press. pp. 123–230. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.10220.
  9. ↑ Moody, Laura (February 24, 2020). "Three-dimensional growth: a developmental innovation that facilitated plant terrestrialization" (PDF). Journal of Plant Research. 133 (3): 283–290. Bibcode:2020JPlR..133..283M. doi:10.1007/s10265-020-01173-4. PMC   7214384 . PMID   32095969.
  10. ↑ Almeida, Ângelo; Cotas, João; Pereira, Leonel; Carvalho, Paula (March 16, 2023). "Potential Role of Spirogyra sp. and Chlorella sp. in Bioremediation of Mine Drainage: A Review". Phycology. 3: 186–201. doi: 10.3390/phycology3010012 .
  11. 1 2 Ge, Shijian; Madill, Max; Champagne, Pascale (April 2018). "Use of freshwater macroalgae Spirogyra sp. for the treatment of municipal wastewaters and biomass production for biofuel applications". Biomass and Bioenergy. 111: 213. Bibcode:2018BmBe..111..213G. doi:10.1016/j.biombioe.2017.03.014.
  12. ↑ Tipnee, Sawitree; Ramaraj, Rameshprabu; Unpaprom, Yuwalee (June 2015). "Nutritional Evaluation of Edible Freshwater Green Macroalga Spirogyra varians". Emergent Life Sciences Research. 1 (2): 1–7.
  13. ↑ "UMA HISTÓRIA QUE GIRA EM TORNO DE UMA ALGA" (PDF) (in Portuguese).
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