8th Different Life Cycles in Chlorophyta

Different life cycles in
Chlorophyta
8th Lecture
Different life cycles in Chlorophyta
• Different life cycles have seen in chlorphyta

which categories as:
i. Haplontic (first type of life cycle)
ii. Diplontic (second type of life cycle)
iii. Isomorphic (third type of life cycle)
First type of life cycle (Haplontic)

• The main thalloid body is haploid and the
zygote began only diploid stage e.g. haploid
phase follows an alternation with diploid
zygote.
• This type of life cycle called as haplonts.
• In majority of unicellular and filamentous
forms, this type of life cycle is seen.
• It is commonly called haplontic life cycle.
Second type of life cycle (Diplontic)

• The main thalloid body is diploid which forms
spores, meiotically, gametes fuse and produce
diploid zygote which directly germinates into a
new thallus body.
• Designation of this kind of life cycle as
Diplonts.
Chlorophyta
• Most of the members Siphonocladales and

Codiales also diplontic life cycle have been
reported.
Chlorophyta
Third type of life cycle (Isomorphic)

• Both haploid and diploid phases are similar in
external appearance.
• A haploid thallus produces gametes and
diploid thallus produces zygospores.
• The zygote develops into a new diploid thallus
without undergoing reduction division.
• Its called isomorphic alternation life cycle.
• Common e.g. Ulva, Enteromorpha
Chlorophyta
• As class Ulvophyceae have 8 orders, they are

mostly filamentous or thalloid algae, normal
cell division, sexual reproduction by iso-aniso
or oogamy.
• Zygnemophyceae present with 2 orders.
• The are filamentous, mostly in form of cell
division by cap cell formation or sexual
reproduction by conjugation
Chlorophyta
Cladophora
Occurrence:
• Cladophora occurs in both freshwater and
marine habitats.
• Freshwater species are found at an optimum
temperature of 15-25oC.
• They remain attached to rocks, stones, other
aquatic plants etc.
• It is represented by 160 species.
Cladophora
• Chlorophyta
• Siphonocladophyc
eae
• Cladophorales
• Cladophoraceae
• Cladophora
Cladophora
Thallus structure
• Thallus body is multicellular, filamentous,
branched and appears like that of a small
herbaceous thallus under low power of
microscope.
• Kumar & Singh (1982) have mentioned that
branching in Cladophora is usually
dichotomous and rarely trichotomous or
alternate (lateral).
Cladophora
Rhizoidal Branches
• The filaments are attached to the substratum.
• The upper portion of the filaments is well
branched.
Cladophora
Cell Structure
• Each cell is cylindrical.
• All cells are surrounded by cell wall, which is
made up of three layers, e.g. an
• Outer most layer chitin material,
• Middle layer of pectic substance and
• Innermost layer of cellulose
Cladophora
• Because nature of chitinous, the outermost
layer of the filament look rough.
Cladophora
• Reproduction
• Cladophora reproduces
1. vegetatively,
2. asexually and also
3. sexually.
Cladophora
1. Vegetative Reproduction by:

a. Fragmentation
b. Storage cells
c. Akinetes
Cladophora
a. Fragmentation:
• mostly species reproduce by fragmentation.
• Filaments may break into small fragments,
which are capable of developing into new
individuals.
Cladophora
b. Storage cells:
• In some species the rhizoidal cells near the
substratum divide and redivide to form some
short branched filaments.
• These filaments cells become filled with reserve
food material.
• During the unfavorable conditions all the cells
of the thallus disorganize and die, except these
cells.
Cladophora
• On return of the favourable conditions,

generally in the next season, these storage
cells germinate into new filaments of
Cladophora.
Cladophora
c. Akhinetes:
• In some freshwater species, some cells of the
filaments become full with reserve food
material.
These thick walled cells having reserve food
material called akinetes.
Akinetes germinate into new filaments of
Cladophora.
Cladophora
2. Asexual Reproduction
• It take place with the help of zoospores
produced in the tip cells of the branches of
the diploid filaments of Cladophra
• Before the zoospore formation the nuclei of
the cells divide repeatedly.
• First nuclear division is a reduction division.
Cladophora
• Some amount of cytoplasm is

aggregated individually around all
these nuclei, which ultimately
change into many haploid,
uninucleate pear-shaped zoospores.
• Each zoospore also has an eyespot
and a chloroplast.
Cladophora
• Zoospores (quadriflagellate) are
liberated through a pore in being
liberated they keep on swimming for
some time in the water.
• Ultimately they settle on some
substratum, withdraw their flagella
and develop into a new haploid
gametophytic filament.
Cladophora
• Morphologically these gametophytic

specimens are similar in all respect
to the diploid sporophyte thallus.
Cladophora
3. Sexual Reproduction: is isogamous

• The gametes are formed only in the cells of
the haploid gametophytic thallus of
Cladophora and exactly in the same way as
the zoospores.
Before the gamete formation the nuclei of the
haploid gametophytic thallus also divide
repeatedly to form many nuclei.
Cladophora
• The number of nuclear divisions is more in

gamete formation, and therefore the gametes
are comparatively smaller than zoospores.
• Liberation of gametes: the liberation of
gametes is also in the same way as that the
zoospores.
• Most of the Cladophora are heterothallic but
some are homothallic.
Cladophora
• Fusion: takes place between the gametes of

different filaments.
• The fusion gametes are morphologically
similar.
• The diploid fusion product is called zygote,
• Later in its flagella are withdrawn.
Cladophora
• Germination of zygote: the Cladophora zygote

does not require any resting period for
germination.
• Zygote germinates directly into a diploid
sporophytic thallus without any reduction
division.
Cladophora
• Alternation of Generation: two types of

filaments are found,
A. Gametophyte
B. Sporophyte
In sporophyte filament the nuclei of sporangia
divide reductionally and form many haploid
filaments (x), which are similar (morphologically)
to the diploid thallus.
Cladophora
• Gametes of different strains fuse and

form a diploid zygote which
germinates into a diploid sporophytic
filament.
• Therefore, Cladophora exhibits an
isomorphic type of alternation of
generation.
Cladophora
Cladophora Completed
Cladophora

8th Different Life Cycles in Chlorophyta

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Different life cycles in

• Different life cycles have seen in chlorphyta

First type of life cycle (Haplontic)

Second type of life cycle (Diplontic)

• Most of the members Siphonocladales and

Third type of life cycle (Isomorphic)

• As class Ulvophyceae have 8 orders, they are

1. Vegetative Reproduction by:

• On return of the favourable conditions,

• Some amount of cytoplasm is

• Morphologically these gametophytic

3. Sexual Reproduction: is isogamous

• The number of nuclear divisions is more in

• Fusion: takes place between the gametes of

• Germination of zygote: the Cladophora zygote

• Alternation of Generation: two types of

• Gametes of different strains fuse and

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