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Spirogyra

{{Short description|Genus of charophyte green algae}}

{{for-multi|other uses|Spirogyra (disambiguation)|the other genus of algae called blanket weed|Cladophora}}

{{Automatic taxobox

| image = Spirogyra.JPG

| image_caption = Spirogyra with its characteristic helically arranged chloroplasts

| taxon = Spirogyra

| authority = Link in C. G. Nees, 1820

| type_species = Spirogyra porticalis

| type_species_authority = (O. F. Müller) Dumortier

| subdivision_ranks = Species

| subdivision = Over 400; see text

| synonyms = * Conjugata Vaucher, 1803{{cite web |url=http://www.algaebase.org/search/genus/detail/?genus_id=v90227c43f9c3656f |title=Algaebase, entry for Conjugata |access-date=20 February 2016}}

  • Jugalis Schrank, 1814{{cite web |url=http://www.algaebase.org/search/genus/detail/?genus_id=jff3e7cee18672007 |title=Algaebase, entry for Jugalis |access-date=20 February 2016}}

}}

Spirogyra (common names include water silk, mermaid's tresses, and blanket weed) is a genus of filamentous charophyte green algae of the order Zygnematales, named for the helical or spiral arrangement of the chloroplasts that is characteristic of the genus. Spirogyra species, of which there are more than 500, are commonly found in freshwater habitats.{{cite web |url=http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/artjan99/gyra.html |title=Spirogyra |author=Jan Parmentier |website=Microscopy UK}} Spirogyra measures approximately 10 to 150 micrometres in width (though not usually more that 60) and may grow to several centimetres in length.{{Cite journal |last1=Kim |first1=Jee-Hwan |last2=Kim |first2=Young Hwan |last3=Lee |first3=In Kyu |date=2004 |title=Morphotaxonomy of the Genus Spirogyra (Zygnematacae, Clorophyta) in Korea. |url=https://e-algae.org/upload/pdf/algae-2004-19-2-091.pdf |journal=Algae |volume=19|issue=2 |pages=91–105 |doi=10.4490/ALGAE.2004.19.2.091 }}{{Cite journal |last1=Christova |first1=Rosalina |last2=Hall |first2=John D. |last3=McCourt |first3=Richard |last4=Sheath |first4=Robert G. |date=June 2013 |title=Identity and phylogenetic placement of Spirogyra species (Zygnematophyceae, Charophyta) from California streams and elsewhere |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/264369654 |journal=Journal of Phycology |volume=49 |issue=3 |pages=588–607 |doi=10.1111/jpy.12070|pmid=27007047 }}

Distribution

Spirogyra can be been found on every continent on Earth, including Antarctica. It is freshwater algae, found rivers, ponds, and other such bodies of water.{{Cite journal |last=Takano |first=Tomoyuki |display-authors=etal |date=2019 |title=Identification of 13 Spirogyra species (Zygnemataceae) by traits of sexual reproduction induced under laboratory culture conditions |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-43454-6.pdf |journal=Scientific Reports|volume=9 |issue=1 |page=7458 |doi=10.1038/s41598-019-43454-6 |pmid=31123266 |pmc=6533312 |bibcode=2019NatSR...9.7458T }}

Taxonomy

The genus Spirogyra was named by German naturalist Johann Heinrich Friedrich Link in 1820. The lectotype, Spirogyra porticalis was designated in 1952 by Paul C. Silvia.[https://www.algaebase.org/search/genus/detail/?genus_id=43564 Spirogyra page], AlgaeBase.

Reproduction

File:The freshwater alga Spirogyra.jpg

Spirogyra can reproduce both sexually and asexually.{{Cite book |last=Transeau |first=E. N. |title=The Zygnemataceae (fresh-water conjugate algae) with keys for the identification of genera and species, and seven hundred eighty-nine illustrations |publisher=Ohio State University Press |year=1951 |location=Columbus, Ohio |pages=123–230 |doi=10.5962/bhl.title.10220|url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/40795 }} In vegetative reproduction, fragmentation takes place, and Spirogyra simply undergoes intercalary cell division to extend the length of the new filaments.{{Cite journal |last=Moody |first=Laura |date=February 24, 2020 |title=Three-dimensional growth: a developmental innovation that facilitated plant terrestrialization |url=https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10265-020-01173-4.pdf |journal=Journal of Plant Research |volume=133 |issue=3 |pages=283–290|doi=10.1007/s10265-020-01173-4 |pmid=32095969 |pmc=7214384 |bibcode=2020JPlR..133..283M }}

Sexual reproduction is of two types:

  1. Scalariform conjugation requires association of two or more different filaments lined side by side, either partially or throughout their length. One cell each from opposite lined filaments emits tubular protuberances known as conjugation tubes, which elongate and fuse to make a passage called the conjugation canal. The cytoplasm of the cell acting as the male travels through this tube and fuses with the female cytoplasm, and the gametes fuse to form a zygospore.
  2. In lateral conjugation, gametes are formed in a single filament. Two adjoining cells near the common transverse wall give out protuberances known as conjugation tubes, which further form the conjugation canal upon contact. The male cytoplasm migrates through the conjugation canal, fusing with the female. The rest of the process proceeds as in scalariform conjugation.

The essential difference is that scalariform conjugation occurs between two filaments and lateral conjugation occurs between two adjacent cells on the same filament.

Usage

Spirogyra species are being researched for their potential in bioremediation. Specifically, in stemming toxic runoff from mines (where they are often found occurring naturally){{Cite journal |last1=Almeida |first1=Ângelo |last2=Cotas |first2=João |last3=Pereira |first3=Leonel |last4=Carvalho |first4=Paula |date=March 16, 2023 |title=Potential Role of Spirogyra sp. and Chlorella sp. in Bioremediation of Mine Drainage: A Review |journal=Phycology |volume=3|pages=186–201 |doi=10.3390/phycology3010012 |doi-access=free }} and from municipal wastewater.{{Cite journal |last1=Ge |first1=Shijian |last2=Madill |first2=Max |last3=Champagne |first3=Pascale |date=April 2018 |title=Use of freshwater macroalgae Spirogyra sp. for the treatment of municipal wastewaters and biomass production for biofuel applications |journal=Biomass and Bioenergy |volume=111|page=213 |doi=10.1016/j.biombioe.2017.03.014 |bibcode=2018BmBe..111..213G }} Spirogyra has also been investigated as a potential biofuel.

Spirogyra species, such as S. varians, are also being researched for potential pharmaceutical usage due to their high nutrient densities.{{Cite journal |last1=Tipnee |first1=Sawitree |last2=Ramaraj |first2=Rameshprabu |last3=Unpaprom |first3=Yuwalee |date=June 2015 |title=Nutritional Evaluation of Edible Freshwater Green Macroalga Spirogyra varians |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/277776578 |journal=Emergent Life Sciences Research |volume=1 |issue=2 |pages=1–7}}

Species

The following species are currently accepted. For a more comprehensive and up-to-date list of currently accepted species, view the pages on [https://www.algaebase.org/search/genus/detail/?genus_id=43564 AlgaeBase] or [https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=577679 WoRMS].

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Trivia

American jazz fusion band Spyro Gyra was named after this genus of algae.

It is also the subject of the Brazilian Samba rock song "Spirogyra story" by Jorge Ben.{{Cite web |title=UMA HISTÓRIA QUE GIRA EM TORNO DE UMA ALGA |url=https://www.ufmg.br/cienciaparatodos/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/35-umahistoriaquegiraemtornodeumaalga.pdf |language=Portuguese}}

Gallery

File:20090523_213732_Spirogyra.jpg|Spirogyra

File:3x2 millimeters of Spirogyra.jpg|Spirogyra

File:Spirogyra cell.jpg|Single Spirogyra cell

File:20090328 2222 Spirogyra.jpg|Spirogyra (Each numbered tick = 122 μm)

File:20090328 2225 Spirogyra.jpg|Spirogyra (Each numbered tick = 20 μm)

File:Spirogyra algae under microscope.jpg|Patch of Spirogyra from algal blooming in Westfalian pond

File:Spirogyra-bgiu.jpg|Spirogyra algal bloom in Romanian pond

References

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{{Reflist}}

  • John Whitton, B.A. and Brook, A.J. (editors) 2002. The Freshwater Algal Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. {{ISBN|0-521-77051-3}}.

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Category:Zygnemataceae