Chlorophyta (Green Algae) | Classification of Chlorophyta (Green Algae) | Cell structure of Chlorophyta | Pigments in Chlorophyta | Thallus organization of Chlorophyta

Chlorophyta 

(Green Algae)

Chlorophyta is eukaryotic algae. They are distributed in fresh, marine, and terrestrial environments, but most are marine. They may vary in their shapes:

  • Unicellular
  • Colonial 
  • Filamentous 
  • Membranous

 Classification:

 

The Chlorophyta has a single class of Chlorophyceae and nine orders. The names of these nine orders are:

  1. Chloroccocales 
  2. Volvocales 
  3. Ulotrichales 
  4. Oedogoniales 
  5. Chaetophorales 
  6. Cladophorales 
  7. Siphonales 
  8. Tetrasporales 
  9. Zygnematales 

Cell wall:

The cell wall of Chlorophyta is composed of cellulose and pectins. Its cell wall is usually divided into three layers:

  1. The inner firm part (lamellae)
  2. Middle forms (pectic layer)
  3. The outer part (mucilaginous) 

Pigments in Chlorophyta:

Chloroplasts have chloroplasts which are mostly involved in photosynthesis. 

The product of photosynthesis is glucose which is then converted into starch. Chloroplast is a double membranous organelle and can vary in shape cup-shape, oval disc, incomplete ring-shaped, or complete ring-shaped. 

A variety of photosynthetic pigments are found in the chloroplast of Chlorophyta. These pigments can be divided and classified as:

  • Primary photosynthetic pigment (chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b) 
  • Accessory pigments (α- and β-carotene) 
  • Xanthophylls (hetero-xanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin, violaxanthin, lycopene)  

Eyespot or stigma: 

  • Eyespot or stigma helps the Chlorophyta in locomotion.
  • The eyespot is light sensitive and thus moves the Chlorophyta (according to external light) with the help of flagella.
  • This type of movement can be said a Phototactic movement
  • If the movement is toward light, it is called positive phototaxis; if it is away from light, it is called negative phototaxis. 

 Thallus organization:


Chlorophyta's body is thallus-like (means not differentiated into roots, stems, or leaves). This thallus can be found in various forms. Some of these are:

  • Motile form
  • Filamentous form
  • Siphonaceous form
  • Palmellate form
  • Coccoid forms

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