Volvulina Playfair, 1915

Holotype species: Volvulina steinii Playfair

Original publication and holotype designation: Playfair, G.I. (1915). Freshwater algae of the Lismore District: with an appendix on the algal fungi and Schizomycetes. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 40(Part II No. 158): 310-362, 10 figs, pls XLI-XLVI.

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Description: Colonies ovoid or spherical, containing 16 cells embedded in the periphery of a gelatinous matrix, forming a hollow structure. Cells lenticular or hemispherical, each with two equal flagella, a stigma, two contractile vacuoles at the base of flagella or many contractile vacuoles scattered on the cell surface, a massive cup-shaped chloroplast without pyrenoids or with one in the bottom or brim. Stigmata in anterior cells larger than in posterior cells. Asexual reproduction by autocolony formation; each cell of the colony develops into a daughter colony with successive divisions and subsequent inversion. Sexual reproduction by isogametes produced by the escape of each cell of the colony from the gelatinous matrix. Mature aplanozygotes with spiny or smooth cell wall. A single biflagellate gone cell exits the zygote wall upon germination. Volvulina is cosmopolitan but rare; V. steinii collected in freshwater rich in organic matter. Volvulina was initially established with a single species, V. steinii. It was later characterized as having colonies with 16 lenticular cells normally lacking pyrenoids. V. steinii and V. pringsheimii have pyrenoids and can be distinguished by pyrenoid appearance. De novo development of pyrenoids in V. steinii colonies as a function of culture age was studied using light and electron microscopy. V. compacta was recently described from Nepal, and this species was suggested to be related to Pandorina morum. The current concept of Volvulina is based on the presence of hollow colonies with lenticular cells. Vitamin requirements and organic carbon sources were studied in V. steinii and V. pringsheimii; vitamin B₁₂ was required for growth of both species, whereas an organic carbon source was necessary only for V. steinii.

Information contributed by: H. Nozaki. The most recent alteration to this page was made on 2012-06-29 by Michael 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..

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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=43498

Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
Michael Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 29 June 2012. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 25 November 2024