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Question

Algae are known to reproduce asexually by a variety of spores under different environmental conditions. Name these spores and the conditions under which they are produced.

Asexual reproduction in algae is very common mean of reproduction.

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Solution

Algae and their spores exhibit enormous diversity and they vary greatly in their level of specialisation. Asexual reproduction by spores and their types are described below

(a) By Zoospores These are mobile flagellated spores. In which protoplasm of each vegetative cell undergoes repeated longitudinal division either into 2 or 4 rarely 8 or 16 daughter protoplast. The parent cell loses its falgella, before the onset of division.

Ater the last series of division, each daughter protoplast secretes a cell wall and neuromotor apparatus that develops two flagella, eyespots and contractile vacuoles.

Thus, each of the daughter cell formed resembles the parent cell in all aspects except the small size.

Fromation of zoospores is very common under favourable conditions.

(b) By Aplanospores These are the non-motile spores. They are asexually formed with in a cell, in this protoplast withdraws itself from the parent wall, rounds up and develops into aplanospores which may either germinate directly or may divide to produce zoospores.

(c) By Hypnospores In this, the protoplasm withdraws from the cell wall, rounds up an develop a thick wall under unfavourable condition. These resting spores are called as hypnospores. They are red in colour due to the presence of haematochrome.

e.g., Vaucheria, Ulothrix.

(d) Akinetes These are special vegetative thick-walled cells present in the filaments which remain under dormant state and return to germination under the favourable condition and can also withstand unfavourable condition as Spirogyra.

(e) Statospores This is the thick-walled spores produced in diatoms.

(f) Neutral Spores In some algae, the protoplast, of vegetative cells directly functions as spores called as neutral spores (e.g., Ectocarpus)


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