Vaucheria (Xanthophyta) | ALGAL BODY OF VAUCHERIA | REPRODUCTION IN VAUCHERIA |

 Vaucheria 

(Xanthophyta)

• The genus Vaucheria (named after J. P. Vaucher) is represented by about 54 species. 
• Most of the members are terrestrial (V. geminate, V. terrestris, K. hamata) or freshwater (V. uncinata).

 Algal body:

• The Vaucheria is filamentous, much branched, coenocytic, and siphonaceous thallus. 
• The coenocytic body contains many nuclei. 
• Septa may form during injury or the development of a sex organ. 
• In terrestrial species, the algal body remains attached to the soil surface with a much-branched thread-like structure, the rhizoid or hapteron. 
• In floating members, the rhizoids are either absent or ill-developed.
• The filamentous body has a thin outer wall, which is less elastic. 
• It is made up of outer pectic and inner cellulosic layers. 
• In the center of the filament, a continuous vacuole is present except at the apical region, which is filled with cell sap. 
• The protoplast is present throughout the filament between the cell wall and vacuole which contains nuclei, chromatophores, and other substances.

 Photosynthetic pigments:

 Vaucheria contains pigments, reserve food is fats and oils. 

1. Chlorophyll a 
2. Chlorophyll e 
3. Carotenoids 
4. Xanthophylls

 Reproduction:

Reproduction takes place by all three means :

1. Vegetative  reproduction
2. Asexual  reproduction
3. Sexual  reproduction

Vegetative reproduction

• Vegetative reproduction takes place by fragmentation. 
• Any part body of Vaucharia breaks and forms a new individual of Vaucharia. 
• The part may be called a fragment.

Asexual reproduction

• Asexual reproduction takes place by multi-flagellate zoospores i.e. aplanospores, hypnospores, and akinetes. 

Sexual reproduction

• Sexual reproduction is oogamous. 
• The oogonium contains a single large, uninucleate egg. 
• The antheridium contains many biflagellate antherozoids. 
• After the fusion of both gametes, the zygote is formed.
• The oospore or zygote undergoes meiosis during germination and forms a new Vaucheria algae.