BOT 1201 PLANT DIVERSITY

(2020/21)

LESSONS 3 and 4
(Uploaded on 14/03/2023)

Dr. (Mrs.) P. L. Hettiarachchi

 LESSON – 3
Sub Kingdom-Heterokonta (Stramenophila)
DIVISION PHAEOPHYTA
(Brown Algae)

DIVISION BACILLARIOPHYTA
(Diatoms)
Sub Kingdom- Heterokonta
(Stramenophila)
 Diverse, but monophyletic group (common ancestor)
Contain flagella with tiny hairs ("stramen" means
flagellum in Latin, and "pilos" means hair).

Includes: planktonic diatoms (Bacillariophyta)

large multicellular marine seaweeds
(brown algae or Phaeophyta)
water molds and downy mildews (oomycetes).
(The resemblance between fungi and oomycetes (“fungi-
like” organisms) is due to convergent evolution).

Some are heterotrophic (oomycetes), whereas others

are photoautotrophic (Phaeophyta) and (Bacillariophyta)
.
 convergent evolution is the process whereby
organisms not closely related(not monophyletic),
independently evolve similar traits as a result of having
to adapt to similar environments or ecological niches.

 Speciation
is a result of divergent evolution and
occurs when one species diverges into multiple
descendant species over time.

 Parallel evolution is the development of a similar trait

in related, but distinct, species descending from the
same ancestor, but from different clades.
Chloroplasts surrounded by three / four
membranes, suggesting an origin from a
symbiotic relationship between a basal
eukaryote and another eukaryotic
organism(secondary endosymbiosis)
(shall explain this during practicals)

2. Reproduce by means of flagellated spores and gametes

3. Pigments : Chl. c and Fucoxanthin are essential.

4. Close relationship observed in DNA.

 Kingdom – Protista
Sub Kingdom – Heterokonta
Division – Phaeophyta
Class - Phaeophyceae
(Brown Algae)(Margulis and Chapman, 2009)

Watch the following video (Independent Learning)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQ_AYrOAOgc
 Common Characters

 Over 1500 species

 All are multicellular.
 Mostly marine and include large
seaweeds in the intertidal zone and
giant algae in deep sea (kelp forests)

 LargestProtists (can reach lengths of

nearly 150 feet)

 Body of “Plant like” seaweeds are

divided into basal holdfast, stipe and
expanded blade (lamina).
 Common Characters
Pigments: Chl. a, Chl. c, (traces of Chl. B), beta
carotene, fucoxanthin and xanthophyll

Food storage :
Chrysolaminarin/ Laminarin (carbohydrate), Mannitol
and fat

Cellwall material :
Cellulose (inner wall)
Alginine (outer wall)

Use as a source of food (rich in minerals and

vitamins) and in many industries.
Diversity in the Habit
Order 1 - Ectocarpales
Ectocapus sp.

Profusely branched, uniseriate filament.

Grows epiphytically on other marine plants, in cold seas.

Unilocular sporangium

Plurilocular
Sporangium / gametangium
 Order 2 - Cutleriales
Order 3 – Dictyotales
Parenchymatous thallus

Padina sp.
Tropical genus.
Appearance of rings due
to the presence of hairs.

Dictyota sp.
Order 4 – Laminariales
Mainly temperate, bulk is confined to cold waters.

There is a wide range in the habit of the sporophyte.

Whip like thallus, “sea palm”, “sea fern”, giant kelp….

Chorda sp. Laminaria spp.

Order 5 - Fucales
 Grows attached to rocks (rock weeds) in the intertidal zone.
 Both temperate (Fucus sp.) and tropical species present.

Sargassum spp. (diversity high) Turbinaria sp.

 Independent learning – IL

Watch the following videos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGrqH5MRrfo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GU4S6XMMlrA
Kingdom – Protista
Sub Kingdom – Heterokonta
Division –Bacillariophyta
Class – Bacillariophyceae (Diatoms)
 Common Characters
Microscopic, unicellular. Sometimes form colonies.

Found in both fresh and marine environment, as planktons.

Diatoms are encased in a glass-like silica wall.

The cell (frustule) surface is lined with perforations (striae)
to allow gas exchange. Each cell consists of two parts
(valves/ theca) called epitheca and hypotheca, that fits
together.
central vacuole
Valve view

Raphe Girdle view

Food storage: Chrysolaminarin, fats and volutin

Photosynthetic.
Photosynthetic pigments: Chl.a, Chl. c, Fucoxanthin, beta
carotene.

Diatoms are very important as primary produces. Marine

and freshwater plankton are full of photosynthetic diatoms.
They may be responsible for over 20% of annual global
carbon fixation.
Watch the following videos.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=dXGAkuUPB98&list=PLT7Nhru_forxaBp9hj9utEFn_Dg7vfbtA&ind
ex=10

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVI-
P0AWDd4&list=PLT7Nhru_forxaBp9hj9utEFn_Dg7vfbtA&index=4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=Cp9ym5M0RUc&list=PLT7Nhru_forxaBp9hj9utEFn_Dg7vfbtA
&index=8
 Centric Diatoms Pinnate Diatoms
Radialy symmetrical Bilaterally symmetrical
Markings radially arranged Markings arranged along two lines
Raphe/ psudo-raphe absent. Raphe / psudo-raphe present

Frustulia sp.
Bidullphia sp.
Melosira sp.

Navicula sp. Pinnularia sp.

 LESSON – 4

DIVISION RHODOPHYTA
(Red Algae)
Domain - Eukarya
Kingdom – Protista
Division –Rhodophyta
Class –(1) Bangiophyceae
(2) Florideophyceae
(Red Algae)

Watch the following video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=DMN2WsO4zjo
Common Characters
Over 10,000 !!! species (including
seaweeds) present.
Most are marine, multicellular

Could occupy even a depth of 200 meters.

Chloroplast has 2 membranes and called

rhodoplast. It contains chlorophyll a and
phycobilins out of which red phycoerythein
are important in absorbing light that can
penetrate deep into the water.
Red algae occupying shallow water looks
more greenish!!!! WHY???
Stored food – a starch called floridean.

Flagellated reproductive cells absent.

Havecells coated in carrageen which is used in

cosmetics, gelatin capsules and some cheeses.

Calcified forms help in building coral reefs.

Thallus construction may be unilateral or

multilateral (fountain type)
Class – Bangiophyceae
Order – Bangiales
Prophyra sp.

Marine, thallus.
Each cell contains a
stellate c’plast.

Impt. As a source
of food.
Class – Florideophyceae
Order 1. Batrachospermales
Batrachospermum sp. Order 2. Gelidiales
Gelidium sp.
Fresh water form. Marine, non calcified,
stiff, cartilaginous thallus
Order 3. Corallinales
Marine, heavily calcified. earlier considered
Jania spp. as Corallina sp.

earlier considered as
Cheilosporum sp.
Order 3. Corallinales contd.
Marine, heavily calcified.

Amphiroa sp.
Order 4. Halymeniales
Order 5. Gracilariales
Gratelaupia sp.
Gracilaria sp.
Dichotomously branched, flat

Order 6. Gigartinales Hypnea sp.

All are marine, non calcified
forms.
Order 7. Ceramiales
Marine, non calcified forms
Ceramium sp. Acanthophora sp.

claw

Laurencia sp.