A famous botanist F.E. Fritsch (1935) classified algae into following 11 classes, based on pigmentation, reserve food material, flagellation and reproduction. 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 [...]
The following points highlight the six main criterions on which modern concepts of classification of algae is based. The criterions are: 1. Nuclear Organization 2. Nature of Cell Wall Components 3. Pigmentation and Photosynthetic Apparatus 4. Nature of Reserve Food 5. Flagellation 6. Type of Life Cycle and Reproduction. Criteria # 1. Nuclear Organization: On the basis of nuclear organization [...]
In this article we will discuss about the classification of algae. A generally agreed classification of algae recognizes nine broad taxonomic groups, called Divisions. These are Chlorophycophyta, Xanthophycophyta, Bacillariophycophyta, Phaeophycophyta, Rhodophycophyta, Chrysophycophyta, Euglenophycophyta, Cryptophycophyta and Pyrrophycophyta. Among these, the members of the first five Divisions are distinctly plant-like organisms, but the others, particularly the flagellates, have some animal-like characters. For [...]