Abstract
The Rhodophyta (red algae) owe their colour to the presence of excess of r-phycoerythrin in their chromatophores and this red pigment masks the colour of other photosynthetic pigments. The Rhodophyta are characterized by six main features: (1) the flagellated motile stages are totally absent; (2) the sexuality is highly specialized; the male gamete, called spermatium, is motionless and at the time of fertilization is passively transported to and lodged on the trichogyne of the female carpogonium; also, there are distinct post-fertilization developments not found in any other algal phyla; (3) chlorophyll-d, biliproteins (r-phycoerythrin and r-phycocyanin) and the xanthophyll taraxanthin are the characteristic pigments; besides, the chromatophores generally contain chlorophyll-a, α and β carotenes, lutein, zeaxanthin, neoxanthin and rarely other xanthophylls; (4) the reserve foods are floridean starch and galactoside floridosides and these do not accumulate within the chromatophore but outside it, in the cytoplasm; (5) the cell wall contains polysulphate esters of carbohydrates in addition to cellulose and pectin; and (6) the transverse walls in multicellular forms are generally provided with pits which permit cytoplasmic connection between adjacent cells.
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Selected References
Brody, M. and Vatter, A. E., Observations on cellular structures of Porphyridium cruentum, J. Biochem. Biophys. Cytol., 5, 289–92 (1959).
Edwards, P., The life-history of Polysiphonia denudata (Dillwyn) Kützing in culture, J. Phycol., 4, 35–37 (1968).
Fogg, G. E. and Collyer, D. M., The accumulation of fats as a characteristic of certain classes of algae, Proc. VIII Internat. Bot. Congr., 17, 28 (1954).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 1979 Affiliated East-West Press Private Limited
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Kumar, H.D., Singh, H.N. (1979). Rhodophyta. In: A Textbook on Algae. Palgrave, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-16144-7_10
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-16144-7_10
Publisher Name: Palgrave, London
Print ISBN: 978-0-333-26072-2
Online ISBN: 978-1-349-16144-7
eBook Packages: Biomedical and Life SciencesBiomedical and Life Sciences (R0)