Streptophyte alga

Spirogyra pratensis

Spirogyra pratensis is a Zygnematophyceae, the streptophyte algal class sister to land plants Its main characteristics are:

• Filamentous Structure: S. pratensis forms long, unbranched filaments made up of cylindrical cells arranged end-to-end, giving it a thread-like appearance.
• Chloroplast Arrangement: Its most distinctive feature is the spiral arrangement of chloroplasts within each cell, which is where its genus name "Spirogyra" originates. This spiral chloroplast structure is essential for photosynthesis.
• Reproduction: S. pratensis reproduces both sexually and asexually. Sexual reproduction occurs through a process called conjugation, where adjacent filaments form bridges through which genetic material is exchanged.
• Cell Structure: Each cell has a large central vacuole, with the nucleus suspended in the center, and cell walls made of cellulose. The helical chloroplast contains pyrenoids, which are involved in the synthesis and storage of starch.

These characteristics make Spirogyra pratensis a well-known organism in the study of algae and an example of early plant-like features in aquatic species.

Genome assembly stats

Taxonomy