Polynuclearity of vegetative cells in coccal green algae from the family neochloridaceae

Abstract

Summary The division of nuclei in cells of 13 strains of unicellular, zoospore and aplanospore producing green algae during their life cycles was studied. This process is different in the coenocytic (polyenergic) species from the genera Chlorotetraedron, Spongiochloris and Neochloris p.p. (including the type species), and in the mononuclear Neochloris (excl. typo), in which it is similar to the unicellular Chlorella or coenobial Scenedesmus (Chlorellales sensu stricto). The genus Dictyococcus has the similar nuclear division as was recognized in coenocytic types, but several other characters are different (absence of pyrenoids). The simple unicellular coenocytic green algae have to be classified into the special family Neochloridaceae, which is the simplest group of polynuclear line of green algae with “naked” zooids from the order Protosiphonales. The mononuclear species from the genus Neochloris were classified into a special genus Ettlia (zoosporine Chlorellales).