Chapter 45
Batrachosper
Systematlc Position
Division-Rhodophyta
Class-Florideophyceae
Order -Batrachospermales (or Nemalionales)
Family-Batrachospermaceae
Genus-Batrachospermum
Occurrence: Batrachospermum, with its about
distributed in tropical, sub-tropical and temperate are
clean water but a few species are known to grow in
the common Indian species recorded from Dehrac
popularly known as frog spawn because of similar
annualbut a few may be perennial such as B. vagu
THE PLANT I
Structure: The plants are smooth and slimy and ap
colour. Such a variation is observed due to differen
3cater depth in water are reddish while on the su
The plant body withthe naked eyes looks like a bran
into prostrate and erect system. The prostrate s
substratum while erect portion float freely. Aplant r
into nodesfcentral main axis of large number of elong
extbook of Botany
of limited growth are narrower at the base and comparatively broad to
is characteristic feature of the genus.
ohemispheriA
Whor of laterals Branch of
Glomerule
unlimited growth
-Branch
Node
Main axis
A
Cortical cell
Cellwall Branch of
B
limited growth
Chromatophore
Pyrenoid
Nucleus
-Vacuole
-Cytoplasm
atnching
rachospermum. A--habit
and C--a single cell.
of the plant,
B--a nodal part
hand
enlarged showing position a
ans of origin of
branches:
an apical cell Both, axial filament and
hich
soon by dividing branch of unlimited gro
cells as lateral differentiates transversely.
into nodes and As aresult uniseriate row of cells is
als
ofbranchgrowth.
of limited of limited projections internodes,
arise, each soon From the nodal cell, 4to 0
forms the septum and begins to
growth. These initials repeatedly divide arnd form clusters
on LIFE CYCLE
ermum reproduces by
asexual and sexual
Iantrerpransioducta stageion:
singly inside theDuring asexual mneans.
[Link], non-motileareuninucleate
plants and on monospores
the
-Monosporangium
Young
branches
Erect filament
B
B-monosporan
chantransiastage and
germinating from
Ayoung plant groups of four
um. in
produced singly, in pairsor oflimited grove
Spermatangiaare initials,on branches distinguis
spermatangial whichcan be easily
the
al cells,colourlessroundedstructure metamorphoses intoa sirn
a small, spermatangium released throug
ofeach are
[Link]
content
gamete). The spermatia
spermatium(male carpogo
spermatangialwall. short4 to
S-celled
n the terminally on a carpogonial initial
carpogonium arises divisioninthe carpogonium
e transverse Each
resultof limited growth. trichogvne ar
Tisesasa branch of long constrictic
cell ofthe upper
enucleate
ebasal
differentiated into an egg. A median
uninucleate
ture and
base witha single passively with .
al awayspermatium disso
ial base. being carried
spermatiumis Soon,the wallof with the eg
Gberated itstip. trichogyne. It fuses
attached to
andgets throughthe
grates tothe Cgg
PyelopmentofCystocarp) meioticallytoforr
divides
446 A Taxtbook of Botany
The cluster of gonimoblast
are naked and non-motile. carposporophyte
carposporangia constitute the ilaments associated
which grows as a parasite on
Spematanglum female plwianh.
Carpogonlum
Trichogyne
Spermatum
Fusing nuclel
A C D
Degenerating
Gonimoblast
trichogyne initial Gonimoblast
filament
Diploid
nucleus
F
E
G H
,Enveloping filament
Internode
Node Cystocarp
Branch
Cortical cell
A-male branch showing sperman
Fig 45.3. Stages in the sexual reproduction of Batrachospermum, H-development of
gonimoblast
B-female branch showing carpogonium, C, D-act of fertilisation, E to
filaments and branch showing a cystocarp.
e meanwhile, and with the
unding the carpogonia together
ebranches enclosing
develsterileopmentcells ofof carposporophytBate,rathechospermum 447
carp, is formed. the
carposporophyte. Thus,carpogoni a al filaments fom vegetaatisheath
ve cellsof
characteristic fruiting body, called
gtransia Stage
ospore germinates to form
ilestage in the life cycle of fheterotrichous protonemal filament and thus
Bat
erlyreferredto as a new genus, rachospermum.
Chantransia,
called chantransia stage (Fig. andBecause
that is
of its
why peculiar constituteswas
structure, it
a
ageis
orm monospores which in fact
45.2 A).
Chantransia considering similarities
its
thalli
serve asS an
al plant of Batrachospermum is formed as a lateral accessory means ofreproduce asexually
cnt. It is generally interpreted that of a plant, outgrowth frommultiplication. The
the chantransia
-m and Batrachospermum proper filamentchantransia filament constitutes prostrate
to erect system,
otrichous habit. thus, in all forming
BATRACHOSPERMUM
Plant Monosporangia
n
n
ASEXUAL
Carpogonium REPRODUCTION
Spermatangia Chantransia
stage
Monospore
n
Ovum SEXUAL REPRODUCTION
Carpospore
Spermatium
Carposporangia
SISOl
Fertilisation
Gonimoblast filaments
-Zygote
(2n)
life cycle of Batrachospermun.
Pig. 45.4. Graphic representation of
of life cycle in the alga andfound that at
Stosch and Theil (1979)1reportedanew mode diploid microthallus(Audouinella-
cells of
none species meiosis takes place intthe apical Chaugule (1980) while working on B.
e or Chantransia phase). Balakrishnan and cycle. Thus, in such
species
mode of life
abaleshwarensis have supportedto this newthese remain diploid and produce diploid
Dspores are not formed meiotically, rather,
othallus (Chantransia stage).