Pseudocharacium Korshikov, 1953
Holotype species: Pseudocharacium acuminatum Korshikov
Currently accepted name for the type species: Hydrocytium acuminatum (A.Braun) A.Braun
Original publication and holotype designation: Korshikov, A.A. (1953). Viznachnik prisnovodnihk vodorostey Ukrainsykoi RSR. Pidklas Protokokovi (Protococcineae). Bakuol'ni (Vacuolales) ta Protokokovi (Protococcales) [The Freshwater Algae of the Ukrainian SSR. Sub-Class Protococcineae. Vacuolales and Protococcales]. Vol. 5 pp. 439, 421 figures. Kyiv: Akademyy Nauk Ukrayins'koy RSR. [in Ukrainian]
Request PDFDescription: Unicellular algae attached to the substrate by a mucilaginous pad or short but distinct stipe. Cells ovoid, ellipsoid to spindle shaped, sometimes slightly curved. Cells uninucleate when young, later becoming multinucleate with nuclei randomly distributed in the cytoplasm. Cells with a parietal chloroplast with one to several pyrenoids; pyrenoids surrounded by a smooth, continuous ring of starch. Cell wall thin in young cells, becoming thick in mature cells and sporangia. Asexual reproduction by quadriflagellate zoospores, ovoid, tapering at the anterior end; 16 or more zoospores are produced per sporangium, and released through a lateral rupture of the sporangial wall. Zoospores naked, with anterior contractile vacuoles situated near the flagellar bases, a median to posterior stigma, and a single parietal chloroplast with pyrenoid; zoospores attaching to the substrate with the anterior end, followed by retraction of the flagella. Sexual reproduction unknown.
Information kindly contributed by Skaloud et al. (2018: 170). but may now be outdated.
Taxonomic status: This name is currently regarded as a synonym of .
Gender: This genus name is currently treated as neuter.
Most recent taxonomic treatment adopted: Barcyte, D. & Eliáš, M. (2023). Hydrocytium expands the phylogenetic, morphological, and genomic diversity of the poorly known green algal order Chaetopeltidales. American Journal of Botany 110(11, e16238): 1-20, 6 figs.
Comments: Accordking to Skaloud et al. (2018: 170), Pseudocharacium is morphologically very similar to Characium but can be distinguished by the quadriflagellate zoospores. The genus includes three freshwater species, growing as epiphytes on macroalgae and other macrophytes. Type species is Pseudocharacium acuminatum. DNA sequence data is only available for P. americanum. The taxonomic position of the other species will need to be examined using molecular data.
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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=44266
Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 21 December 2023. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 27 November 2024
