Page 98 - Algae Anatomy, Biochemistry, and Biotechnology

Anatomy 81

FIGURE 2.54 Root system of Dinophyta. TF, transverse flagellum; LF, longitudinal flagellum; SCB, striated
connective band; MMLR, multimembered longitudinal root; TSR, transverse striated root; SC, striated
connectives; NFC, nuclear fibrous connective; N, nucleus; FC, fibrous collars; FC, flagellar canals; and
NSF, nonstriated fiber.

root is the most unusual; it is one-stranded and it seems to emerge within the lumen of the short
basal body next to the cartwheel structure (Figure 2.56).

Chlorophyta
Flagellar apparatus of most green algae are characterized by a cruciate root system. A cruciate root
system consists of four roots spreading out more or less evenly from the basal bodies, and with
opposite roots usually possessing identical numbers of microtubules. As in most Chlorophyta
two of the roots are two-stranded, the general arrangement of microtubular root follows the
X-2-X-2 system, with X varying from three to eight microtubules. The root system will be
described for each class of this division, selecting when possible a genus representing the morpho-
logical cell type within the class.
The diversity of flagellar apparatuses of Prasinophyceae is unique among the Chlorophyta. The
root system is cruciate with a 4-2-4-2 system in the tetraflagellate Pyramimonas and Tetraselmis,a
4-2-0-0 system in Mantoniella squamata, due to the reduction of one of the two flagella, and to its