Botryococcus Kützing, 1849

Holotype species: Botryococcus braunii Kützing

Original publication and holotype designation: Kützing, F.T. (1849). Species algarum. pp. [i]-vi, [1]-922. Lipsiae [Leipzig]: F.A. Brockhaus.

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Description: Thalli microscopic, semi-microscopic to 1 mm in diameter, forming spherical, oval to irregular grape-like colonies. In some species (or when old) composed of subcolonies connected by thin to thick hyaline strands embedded in colorless mucilage. Cells elongate, oval, obovoid, conically narrowed towards the colony center or spherical, on the periphery of colonies arranged radially in one layer, partly or wholly immersed in compact mucilaginous central matrix or directly attached to it by their basal parts; in type species central matrix extremely elastic, sometimes cartilaginous, often impregnated with colorless or orange oil, in latter case colony brown to brick-red. In some species free parts of cells enveloped with collar to funnel like broadenings with wide apical openings, and the basal part of cells covered by brown precipitate. Cells 6-20 µm in diameter or length and 2.5-8 µm wide. Cells uninucleate; chloroplast parietal, cup-shaped, with one basal pyrenoid, sometimes indistinct because of the many oil droplets in the protoplast. Asexual reproduction by 2-4-8 (-16) autospores. Protoplast divides radially relative to colony center, alternately in two mutually perpendicular planes. The parental cell walls gelatinized and divided into two parts, later forming mucilage strands between cells or subcolonies. Zoospores and sexual reproduction unknown.

Information contributed by: F. Hindák & D.J. Garbary. The most recent alteration to this page was made on 2011-12-20 by M.D. Guiry.

Taxonomic status: This name is of an entity that is currently accepted taxonomically.

Gender: This genus name is currently treated as masculine.

Most recent taxonomic treatment adopted: Tsarenko, P.M. (2011). Trebouxiophyceae. In: Algae of Ukraine: diversity, nomenclature, taxonomy, ecology and geography. Volume 3: Chlorophyta. (Tsarenko, P.M., Wasser, S.P. & Nevo, E. Eds), pp. 61-108. Ruggell: A.R.A. Gantner Verlag K.-G..

Comments: Botryococcus planktonic or in metaphyton in oligotrophic to eutrophic waters, some species cosmopolitan with B. canadensis known only from northern Manitoba. Oil production can result in colonies floating to surface resulting in large floating masses. Land plant growth regulators including IAA and kinetin serve as both growth inhibitors and stimulators in B. braunii. At 11.8 %, protein content in B. braunii lower than in Chlorella; amino acids composition similar to Spirulina and Chlorella except for much lower concentrations of methionine plus cystine (0.9 g/100 g protein). Species distinguished based on colony size and details of cell shape and form of mucilage.

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Contributors
Some of the descriptions included in AlgaeBase were originally from the unpublished Encyclopedia of Algal Genera, organised in the 1990s by Dr Bruce Parker on behalf of the Phycological Society of America (PSA) and intended to be published in CD format. These AlgaeBase descriptions are now being continually updated, and each current contributor is identified above. The PSA and AlgaeBase warmly acknowledge the generosity of all past and present contributors and particularly the work of Dr Parker.

Descriptions of chrysophyte genera were subsequently published in J. Kristiansen & H.R. Preisig (eds.). 2001. Encyclopedia of Chrysophyte Genera. Bibliotheca Phycologica 110: 1-260.

Linking to this page: https://www.algaebase.org/search/genus/detail/?genus_id=43502

Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 20 December 2011. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 19 March 2024

 
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