Monoraphidium

{{Short description|Genus of algae}}

{{Automatic taxobox

| image = Monoraphidium arcuatum.jpg

| image_caption = Monoraphidium arcuatum

| taxon = Monoraphidium

| authority = Komárková-Legnerová

| type_species = Monoraphidium neglectum

| type_species_authority = (Berkeley) Komárková-Legnerová

| subdivision_ranks = Species

| subdivision =

• M. braunii
• M. minutum
• M. dybowskii
• M. terrestre
• M. neglectum
• M. circinale
• M. contortum
• M. pusillum
• M. convolutum
• M. griffithii
• M. sp. Itas 9/21 14-6w
• M. saxatile
• M. sp. Itas 8/18 S-1d
• M. sp. Itas 9/21 14-1w
• M. sp. GK12
• M. sp. Dek19

| synonyms =

}}

Monoraphidium is a genus of green algae in the family Selenastraceae.See the NCBI [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?mode=Info&id=34111 webpage on Monoraphidium]. Data extracted from the {{cite web | url=http://ftp.ncbi.nih.gov/pub/taxonomy/ | title=NCBI taxonomy resources | publisher=National Center for Biotechnology Information | accessdate=2007-03-19}} Monoraphidium is found free-floating or attached to surfaces in water, or in soils. It is one of the most common types of phytoplankton in freshwater habitats, and has a cosmopolitan distribution.{{cite book | title= Gêneros de Algas de Águas Continentais do Brasil: chave para identificação e descrições | edition=2 | year=2006 | first1=Carlos E. M. |last1=Bicudo | first2=Mariângela | last2= Menezes | publisher= RiMa Editora | pages=508 | isbn= 857656064X }}

Monoraphidium consists of single cells, which are 2-182 by 1-8 micrometers. The cell is straight to lunate to sigmoid or helically shaped. Cells contain a single nucleus, a single parietal chloroplast and a single pyrenoid lacking a starch sheath (or no pyrenoid at all). Reproduction occurs asexually by autospores.{{Cite web |title=Monoraphidium Komárková-Legnerová, 1969 :: AlgaeBase |url=https://www.algaebase.org/search/genus/detail/?genus_id=43438&-session=abv4:AC1F064013d441C46DSqC6DEBEE0 |access-date=2023-03-03 |website=www.algaebase.org}}

It is similar to and often confused with the related genus Ankistrodesmus, from which it differs by being typically unicellular.{{cite journal | date = 2016 | last1=Matthews | first1=Robin A. | title=Freshwater Algae in Northwest Washington, Volume II, Chlorophyta and Rhodophyta | url= https://cedar.wwu.edu/cedarbooks/1/ | journal = A Collection of Open Access Books and Monographs | publisher = Western Washington University | doi=10.25710/fctx-n773 }}

Some species and strains of Monoraphidium, such as Monoraphidium neglectum, are promising candidates for commercial biofuel production.{{cite journal | doi=10.1007/s11274-016-2023-6 | title=Microalgae from the Selenastraceae as emerging candidates for biodiesel production: A mini review | year=2016 | last1=Yee | first1=Willy | journal=World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology | volume=32 | issue=4 | page=64 | pmid=26931604 | s2cid=255143072 }}