| Lobocharacium | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification | |
| Clade: | Viridiplantae |
| Division: | Chlorophyta |
| Class: | Chlorophyceae |
| Order: | Chlamydomonadales |
| Family: | Characiosiphonaceae |
| Genus: | Lobocharacium Kugrens, Clay & Aguiar |
| Species: | L. coloradoense |
| Binomial name | |
| Lobocharacium coloradoense Kugrens, Clay & Aguiar, 2000[1] | |
Lobocharacium is agenus ofgreen algae in the familyCharaciosiphonaceae. It contains the single speciesLobocharacium coloradoense.[1] It has been isolated from a pond inColorado, United States.[2]
Lobocharacium coloradoense consists of individual, spindle-shaped cells that are 120–230 μm long and 50–120 μm in diameter, attached to a substrate via a small pad. Cells are multinucleate, with multiple nuclei. Surrounding each nucleus is a cone-shapedchloroplast which is stellate viewed from the front, each with a central pyrenoid. Nuclei and chloroplasts are each in their own lobe or compartment of thecytoplasm, the lobes connected by thin bridges.Contractile vacuoles are absent.[2]
Lobocharacium reproduces asexually and sexually. Asexual reproduction occurs byzoospores, which have two flagella, astigma and a parietal with a pyrenoid. Alternatively,aplanospores may also be formed. Sexual reproduction isisogamous, with spherical gametes with two flagella. The zoospores and gametes are released when the entire cell wall dissolves.[2]
Lobocharacium is most closely related to the genusCharaciosiphon,[3] and shares many morphological characters, including the multinucleate cells with many stellate chloroplasts. The latter genus produces larger cells (up to 0.5 cm), with a large central vacuole and many smaller contractile vacuoles. Additionally, the zoospores and gametes inCharaciosiphon are released through a pore in the cell wall.[2]
 | ThisChlorophyceae-related article is astub. You can help Wikipedia byexpanding it. |