Observations on the morphology,reproduction and cytology of stigeoclonium pascheri (vischer) cox et bold (chaetophorales-chlorophyceae) and their bearing on the validity of the genus caespitella vischer

The present communication deals with the morphology, reproduction and cytology of Stigeoclonium pascheri (formerly described as Caespitella pascheri Vischer). Effects of various concentrations of nitrate and variations in intensity and duration of light period in 24 hr LD cycles were studied on cultures of this alga in relation to the type and extent of branching and occurrence or absence of hair formation. It is concluded that these traits are not of taxonomic significance and are influenced largely by environmental conditions. The present study shows a large overlapping of morphological characters between the genera Stigeoclonium and Caespitella and supports Cox & Bold's abandonment of the latter generic name and its merger into the genus Stigeoclonium. The chromosome number determined for this alga is n = 6 which indicates that the Indian strain of this alga is a distinct cytotype from the one originally isolated by Vischer.