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:
- Chloroccocales
- Volvocales
- Ulotrichales
- Oedogoniales
- Chaetophorales
- Cladophorales
- Siphonales
- Tetrasporales
- Zygnematales
Cell wall:
The cell wall of Chlorophyta is composed of cellulose and pectins. Its cell wall is usually divided into three layers:
- The inner firm part (lamellae)
- Middle forms (pectic layer)
- 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.
- 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:
 | Classification of Chlorophyta (Green Algae) | Cell structure of Chlorophyta | Pigments in Chlorophyta | Thallus organization of Chlorophyta ){kind=link}
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