Dictyochloris is a
genus of
green algae in the class
Chlorophyceae.[2] It is the sole genus of the family Dictyochloridaceae.[3] It is commonly found in terrestrial and subaerial habitats.[4]
The genus Dictyochloris was first described by
Wilhelm Vischer in 1945.[1] Later, it was re-investigated by
Richard C. Starr in 1955.[5] It is not to be confused with DictyochlorisKorshikov, which is an later (and thus
illegitimate) homonym because it was described after Vischer used the name Dictyochloris. Because it is illegitimate, that genus was renamed to Dictyochlorella.[4][6]
Etymology
The scientific name Dictyochloris has roots in the
Greek language. The prefix “dictyo” is derived from the Greek word “δίκτυο” or “díktyo” meaning “network”,[7] which is in reference to the net-like
chloroplast present in this
genus. The medial “-chloro-” is from “χλωρός” or “chloros” meaning “the colour green” [8][9] because of the green
pigment,
chlorophyll, which colors the algae.
Description
Dictyochloris consists of solitary, spherical cells surrounded by a thin cell wall. Cells are
coenocytic, i.e. have multiple
nuclei. The
chloroplast is net-like, parietal when young, developing into an irregular three-dimensional network. Chloroplasts lack
pyrenoids.[4]
Dictyochloris reproduces
asexually via
zoospores or
aplanospores, which are produced when the mother cell's contents repeatedly undergo binary fission. Zoospores bear an
eyspot and two
flagella, one of which is slightly longer than the other.[10]
The genus is morphologically similar to Dictyochloropsis, which also has chloroplasts in the form of an irregular, three-dimensional network of strands. However, Dictyochloropsis has one nucleus at maturity while Dictyochloris has multiple nuclei.[11] Some Dictyochloropsis species have been transferred to a new genus, Symbiochloris.[12]
References
^
abGuiry, M.D.; Guiry, G.M.
"Dictyochloris". AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. Retrieved 2023-09-14.
^Fučíková, Karolina; Lewis, Paul O.; Lewis, Louise A. (2014). "Putting incertae sedis taxa in their place: A proposal for ten new families and three new genera in Sphaeropleales (Chlorophyceae, Chlorophyta)". Journal of Phycology. 50 (1): 14–25.
doi:
10.1111/jpy.12118.
PMID26988005.
S2CID24770288.
^
abcShubert, 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.
ISBN978-0-12-385876-4.
^Starr, R.C. "A comparative study of Chlorococcum Meneghini and other spherical, zoospore-producing genera of the Chlorococcales". Indiana University Publications. Science Series. 20: 1–111.
^Nakano, Taketo; Isagi, Yuji (1987). "Dictyochloropsis irregularis sp. nov. (Chlorococcales, Chlorophyceae) isolated from the surface of bark". Phycologia. 26 (2): 222–227.
doi:
10.2216/i0031-8884-26-2-222.1.
^Škaloud, Pavel; Friedl, Thomas; Hallmann, Christine; Beck, Andreas; Dal Grande, Francesco (August 2016). Gabrielson, P. (ed.). "Taxonomic revision and species delimitation of coccoid green algae currently assigned to the genus Dictyochloropsis (Trebouxiophyceae, Chlorophyta)". Journal of Phycology. 52 (4): 599–617.
doi:
10.1111/jpy.12422.
PMID27135898.
S2CID21349734.