Raphidocelis Explained

Raphidocelis is a genus of green algae in the family Selenastraceae.[1] They are found in freshwater habitats.

One species, Raphidocelis subcapitata, is a common model organism in the field of toxicology, where it is used as a bioassay. It was previously known as Selenastrum capricornutum, a name later shown to be incorrect.

Description

Raphidocelis consists of solitary cells or of colonies of cells within a thin layer of mucilage. Cells are crescent-shaped, with pointed ends that may be twisted out of the plane of the cell. Each cell contains a single parietal chloroplast filling the cell.[2] Raphidocelis is sometimes reported as lacking a pyrenoid; it does indeed contain one, although it is not covered in layer of starch grains making it often difficult to observe under the light microscope.[3]

Raphidocelis reproduces asexually by autospores; zoospores and sexual reproduction have not been observed in this genus.

Notes and References

  1. See the NCBI webpage on Raphidocelis. Data extracted from the Web site: NCBI taxonomy resources . . 2007-03-19.
  2. Book: Gêneros de Algas de Águas Continentais do Brasil: chave para identificação e descrições . 2 . 2006 . Carlos E. M. . Bicudo . Mariângela . Menezes . RiMa Editora . 508 . 857656064X .
  3. 10.1111/j.1529-8817.2011.01010.x . SSU rRNA gene phylogeny of morphospecies affiliated to the bioassay alga "Selenastrum capricornutum" recovered the polyphyletic origin of crescent-shaped Chlorophyta . 2011 . Krienitz . Lothar . Bock . Christina . Nozaki . Hisayoshi . Wolf . Matthias . Journal of Phycology . 47 . 4 . 880–893 . 27020023 . 1291369 .