Pandorina Bory, 1826

Lectotype species: Pandorina morum (O.F.Müller) Bory

Original publication: Bory de Saint-Vincent, [J.B.G.M.] (1826). Essai d'une classification des animaux microscopiques. pp. [i]-x, [1]-104. Paris: de l'imprimerie de de Mme Veuve Agasse.

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Type designated in: Ehrenberg, C.G. (1838). Die Infusionsthierchen als vollkommene Organismen. Ein Blick in das tiefere organische Leben der Natur. pp. i-xviii, [1-4], 1-[548], 64 pls. Leipzig: Verlag von Leopold Voss.

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Description: Colonies ovoid or ellipsoidal, containing 16 or 32 cells arranged radially in a gelatinous matrix. Cells keystone-shaped, ovoid or spherical, each with two equal flagella, a stigma, two contractile vacuoles at base of flagella, and a massive cup-shaped chloroplast with one basal or multiple pyrenoids (species dependent). Stigmata in anterior cells larger than in posterior cells. Asexual reproduction by autocolony formation, each cell dividing successively to form a plakea, which inverts to become a daughter colony. In sexual reproduction, cells escape from gelatinous matrix to become isogametes, and walled aplanozygotes are formed. Upon germination zygotes give rise to single biflagellate gone cells.

Information contributed by: H. Nozaki & M.D. Guiry. The most recent alteration to this page was made on 2020-02-11 by M.D. Guiry.

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

Most recent taxonomic treatment adopted: Masjuk, N.P. & Lilitska, G.G. (2011). Volvocales. In: Algae of Ukraine: diversity, nomenclature, taxonomy, ecology and geography. Volume 3: Chlorophyta. (Tsarenko, P.M., Wasser, S.P. & Nevo, E. Eds), pp. 218-225. Ruggell: A.R.A. Gantner Verlag K.-G..

Comments: Pandorina species are cosmopolitan in freshwater. Twenty sexually isolated groups (syngens) of P. mora were characterized based on hybridization among 70 clones; phylogeny was inferred based on distribution and karyotype. Pandorina was frequently confused with Eudorina because the original description of Pandorina was inadequate to distinguish the two genera. Pandorina is characterized as having contiguous cells in the colony. P. unicocca, however, has 32-celled colonies with non-contiguous cells similar to Eudorina. Pandorina is also distinguished by being isogamous. Based on colony ultrastructure, P. morum is closely related to Volvulina. Only P. morum and P. unicocca have been studied in laboratory culture. Various strains assigned to P. charkowiensis may be referred to P. unicocca (unipyrenoid) or Eudorina elegans (multipyrenoid). Pandorina morum and P. unicocca require no vitamins or other organic compounds, but are capable of mixotrophic growth in light. P. unicocca requires light for mating response, and calcium is necessary for zygote formation. Ultrastructural studies and chemical analyses showed that extracellular (gelatinous) matrix of P. morum was a multilayered structure containing hydroxyproline-rich glycoproteins and sulfated polysaccharide. The matrix of P. mora suggested to be homologous to the cell wall of Chlamydomonas.

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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=43494

Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 11 February 2020. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 28 March 2024

 
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