Kermatia T.Kalina & M.Puncochárová, 1987

Holotype species: Kermatia pupukensis T.Kalina & M.Puncochárová

Original publication and holotype designation: Kalina, T. & Puncochárová, M. (1987). Taxonomy of the subfamily Scotiellocystoideae Fott 1976 (Chlorellaceae, Chlorophyceae). Algological Studies 45: 473-521.

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Description: Microscopic unicellular algae not embedded in mucilage. Cells 1.5-6 x 1.5-4 µm, guttiform, ovoid to reniform, ellipsoidal and slightly asymmetrical; with 1 apical to 4 dispersed conical to rounded wall thickenings. Cell walls smooth, ultrastructurally with a network of fine ribs, with 2-3 layers, inner two mostly polysaccharide, outer layer trilamellate. Cells uninucleate; chloroplast single and parietal; single pyrenoid longitudinally clavate, with starch sheath. Mitochondrion single and highly branched with arms associated with furrows in chloroplast. Asexual reproduction by ovate to guttiform autospores, 2 (rarely 4) per sporangium; released by rupture of parental cell wall. Flagellated stages and sexual reproduction unknown. Kermatia planktonic in freshwater; reported only from stagnant inshore water of Lake Pupuke, Auckland, New Zealand. Genus differs from Chlorella based on cell shape and apical thickening and Scotiellopsis by size and shape of cells, cell wall and pyrenoid structure and lower number of autospores. Affinities of autosporic chlorococcalean algae uncertain; thus ordinal and class assignment equivocal. Microscopic unicellular algae not embedded in mucilage. Cells 1.5-6 x 1.5-4 µm, guttiform, ovoid to reniform, ellipsoidal and slightly asymmetrical; with 1 apical to 4 dispersed conical to rounded wall thickenings. Cell walls smooth, ultrastructurally with a network of fine ribs, with 2-3 layers, inner two mostly polysaccharide, outer layer trilamellate. Cells uninucleate; chloroplast single and parietal; single pyrenoid longitudinally clavate, with starch sheath. Mitochondrion single and highly branched with arms associated with furrows in chloroplast. Asexual reproduction by ovate to guttiform autospores, 2 (rarely 4) per sporangium; released by rupture of parental cell wall. Flagellated stages and sexual reproduction unknown. Kermatia planktonic in freshwater; reported only from stagnant inshore water of Lake Pupuke, Auckland, New Zealand. Genus differs from Chlorella based on cell shape and apical thickening and Scotiellopsis by size and shape of cells, cell wall and pyrenoid structure and lower number of autospores. Affinities of autosporic chlorococcalean algae uncertain; thus ordinal and class assignment equivocal.

Information contributed by: T. Kalina & D. Garbary. The most recent alteration to this page was made on 2011-11-06 by M.D. Guiry.

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

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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=45702

Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 06 November 2011. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 26 April 2024