Picocystis
| Picocystis | |
|---|---|
| File:Picocystis salinarum.jpg | |
| Picocystis salinarum | |
| Scientific classification Edit this classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Chlorophyta |
| Class: | Picocystophyceae Eikrem & Lopes dos Santos |
| Order: | Picocystales Eikrem & Lopes dos Santos |
| Family: | Picocystaceae Eikrem & Lopes dos Santos |
| Genus: | Picocystis R.A.Lewin 2001 emend. Eikrem & Lopes dos Santos 2017 |
| Species: | P. salinarum
|
| Binomial name | |
| Picocystis salinarum R.A.Lewin 2001
| |
Picocystis is a monotypic genus of green algae, the sole species is Picocystis salinarum.[1] It is placed within its own class, Picocystophyceae in the division Chlorophyta.[2]
Structure
[edit | edit source]Picocystis salinarum cells under normal conditions have a spherical or oval shape. Their size ranges from 2 to 3 μm in diameter. Under conditions of nutrient depletion they appear to form a trillobe shape. This trillobe shape gives it the nickname Mickey Mouse, due to its appearance to the famous character's head. The general appearance resembles that of a standard green alga.
The pigments are composed mainly from chlorophyll a and b and the carotenoids violaxanthin, alloxanthin, monadoxanthin, neoxanthin, lutein, diatoxanthin and zeaxanthin.[3][4]
The cell wall is mainly composed of polymers of the monosaccharide arabinose, polyarabinose.[3]
Habitat
[edit | edit source]The species have been found in saline or hypersaline alkaline environments.[5][6]
References
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