Algae

 Algae: 

Thousands of Algal species are found in this world. They have diversity in shape, size and structure, but all of them contain different photosynthetic pigments and thus they are autotrophic.

 

A short description of Spirogyra, as a. representative of algae, is stated there. 

Structure : They are green, un-branchedfilamentous algae. Their chloroplasts are band shaped, spirally arranged in the cell. The name- Spirogyracomes from this spiral chloroplast.

 

There are pyrenoids in the chloroplasts. The vegetative cell's are elongated and each cell contains a well-organised nucleus and a large vacuole. Their body is slippery and the cell wall is three layered.

 

Reproduction:

Sexual reproduction occurs by the process of conjugation. They also reproduce by fragmentations (Filament break up into short pieces and each part grown into a new filament) or by spore formation.

Importance of Spirogyra:

It is an important source of fish- food. It may .also be used for human food by special processing. It plays a great role in the natural food cycle.