
Taxonomic significance of micromorphology and dimensions of oospores in the genus Chara L., Charales, Chlorophyta
Author(s) -
D. K. Mandal,
S. Rej
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
archives of biological sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.217
H-Index - 25
eISSN - 1821-4339
pISSN - 0354-4664
DOI - 10.2298/abs0404131m
Subject(s) - oospore , chara , biology , population , taxon , botany , reticulate , genus , sociology , demography
Oospore wall ornamentation patterns as revealed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) provide important taxonomic characters in the Charales. The present study illustrates inter- and intra-specific variations in the oospore wall ornamentation of five species of Chara, including eight intra-specific taxa. The type variety and form of C. globularis shows pusticular elevations with pores at the base of the elevation. The variety and form aspera of C. globularis shows a porous oospore wall, and the oospore is provided with a ribbon which bears nearly granular ornamentation. The type form of C. setosa has a granular oospore wall. The three forms of C. braunii show a similar type of ornamentation and support their placement under a single species. Chara corallina has a roughened oospore wall. Oospore dimensions studied at the population level are another feature included in the present study. The oospore dimension data (length, width fossa-breadth, number of striae) at the population level were analyzed statistically, and the results show species-specificity of these parameters. The significance of oospore wall ornamentation and dimensions are discussed simultaneously with morphological features