ALGAE
Classification by F.E FRITSCH
Name – Archana
Course – Zoology Hons.
Rollno – 1927
Subject – Botany
Submitted to – Vidhi Mam
INTRODUCTION
• Algae posses diverse character in their pigments ,
reserves of food , nature of cilia,
• According to these physiological and morphological
characters these were classified by various people.
• Fritsch (1935) classified whole algae into into 11
classes on the basis of type of pigment, nature of
reserve food material ,mode of reproduction etc
Class 1. Chlorophyceae (= Isokontae)
• Generally algae are fresh water and
chlorophyllous thallophytes.
• Chlorophyll b and carotenoides are
present in chloroplasts.
• The cell wall is made up of cellulose
and food is synthesized in the form of
starch.
• Motile spores and cilia are found.
• The sexual reproduction is isogamous,
anisogamous and oogamous types.
• Important genera are:
Chlamydomonas, Volvox, Chlorella,
Ulothrix, and Spirogyra.
Class 2. Xanthophyceae (=
Heterokontae)
• These are green-yellow in colour due
to the presence of xanthophyll.
• The pyrenoids are absent and food
is in the form of fat.
• Chlorophyll e is found in place of
chlorophyll b.
• The sexual reproduction occurs by
fission of two gametes having cilia
of different length.
• Important genera are:
Microspora, Vaucheria, Protosiphon.
Class 3. Chrysophyceae:
• In these organisms, besides chlorophyll, yellow-green
pigments are present.
• Phycocyanin is the colouring material.
• Plants are unicellular, multicellular or colonial.
• The cell wall is present in the form of two overlapping
halves and stored food is in the form of oil or insoluble
carbohydrates, leuosin.
• Example:
Chrysosphaera
Class 4. Bacillariophyceae (= diatoms):
• These are yellow-green-brown or olive
green in colour.
• Diatomin is the colouring material
which is found in chloroplast.
• Pyrenoids are also present.
• These are unicellular and non- motile.
• Chlorophyll c is present in place of
chlorophyll b.
• Examples:
Pinularia, Navicula, Fragilaria.
Class 5. Cryptophyceae:
• These are red, green-blue,
olive-green or green coloured
algae.
• Each cell consists of two
large chloroplasts in which
pyrenoids are present.
• They occur in fresh water
and sea.
• Example: Cryptomonas.
Class 6. Dinophyceae:
• These are dark yellow or
brown or red coloured
algae.
• Stored food is oil or
starch.
• Large nucleus and many
discs like chromatophores
are present.
• Example: Peridinium.
Class 7. Chloromonadineae:
• These algae are bright green or olive green colour.
• Xanthophyll is in abundance.
• Fatty compounds acts as food.
• Reproduction takes place by longitudinal division.
• Example: Vacuolaria.
Class 8. Eugleninae:
• They resemble
microscopic animal
due to presence of
naked ciliated
reproductive organs
• . Chlorophyll is
present.
• Example: Euglena.
Class 9. Phaeophyceae:
• These are yellow-brown coloured
marine algae.
• Fucoxanthin pigment is the
main colouring material,
chlorophyll a and carotene are
also found and chlorophyll c is
found in place of Chlorophyll b.
• Storage food materials are
laminarian, mannitol and fats.
• Zoospores are bi-ciliated and
one cihum is larger. There is no
resting period in zygote.
• Examples: Fucus, Sargassum
Class 10. Rhodophyceae:
• These are red in colour due to phycoerythrin
pigment.
• Phycocyanin, chlorophyll a, carotene and
xanthophyll are also present in small
quantities.
• Storage food is floridean starch.
• Non- motile cells are found during
reproduction.
• These are commonly found in sea water.
• Sexual reproduction is oogamous type.
• Chlorophyll d is present in place of
chlorophyll b.
• Examples: Polysiphonia and
Batrachospermum.
Class 11. Myxophyceae (=
Cyanophyceae):
• The nucleus is of prokaryotic type.
• The blue colour is due to the presence of
phycocyanin pigment but phycoerythrin,
chlorophyll b and carotene are also present in small
quantity.
• The accessory pigment (i.e., phycocyanin,
phycoerythrin and allophycocyanin) contains
structure is called phycobilisomes.
• The chlorophylls are found in thylakoids. Storage
food is myxophycean starch and protein granules.
• There is no motile stage in these algae. Sexual
reproduction is absent. Mainly these algae are
unicellular or filamentous.
• Examples: Nostoc, Oscillatoria, Anahaena,
Lyngbya, Plectonema.
ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF ALGAE
• Algae Constitute the Link of Food Chain eg . Blue Green Algae
• Algae is Useful in Fish Culture eg. Scenedesmus
• Algae is Used for Recreational Purposes
• Algae is Useful in Sewage Treatment Plants eg. Chlorella , Euglena.
• Algae and Water Supplies eg . Flagellated golden brown algae.
• Algae as the Origin of Petroleum and Gas eg. Planktons
• Algae and Limestone Formation eg. zooxanthallae
• Algae is Used in Space Research and Other Fundamental Studies
Eg. Acetabularia
• Algae is Used as Food eg. Laminaria , Gracillaria
• Algae is Used as Fodder eg . Rhodymenia , Macrocystis , Alaria
esculanta.
• Algae is Used as Fertilizers eg. Cylindrospermum bengalense.
• Algae is Used as Medicine eg. Gelidium, Pterocladia, Gracilaria,
and Ahnfeltia
• Industrial Utilization of Algae eg. Fucus and Ascophyllum
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