The branch of Botany which deals with study of ‘algae’ is called Phycology or Algology. Algae are chlorophyllous, non-vascular thallophytes. These are characterized by non-vascular plant body, simple, unicellular, non-jacketed sex organs except the members of Charophyceae in which multicelllular sex organs are present surrounded by sterile cells jacket.
We are familiar with algae in the form of pond scum
or algal blooms. These are diverse group of organisms mostly found in aquatic
habitats, freshwater or saltwater. The term Algae (singular-Alga) was
introduced by Linnaeus in 1753 which is Latin word for seaweeds. Algae are heterogeneous
group of organisms with different forms and sizes. They may exist single or
live in colonies, they may be unicellular or multicelllular. They are mostly
thalloid but sometimes take on a leafy appearance as seen in seaweeds. The size
of algae can be as small as 0.3 µm in diameter to about 60 meters as seen in
fronds of giant kelp. They are helpful to us because of the ability to conduct
photosynthesis.
M.O.P Iyengar is regarded as ‘Father of Modern India
Algology’. R.N.Singh has written famous
monograph on Algae ‘Role of BGA in Nitrogen Economy of Indian Agriculture’.
F.E. Fritsch (1935, 1945) proposed a most comprehensive
system of classification of Algae in his book “The Structure and Reproduction
of the Algae”. He has given ‘algae’ the rank of division and divided it into 11
classes. The basis of his classification was pigment composition, flagella and
reserve food material.
1. Chlorophyceae
2. Xanthophyceae
3. Chrysophyceae
4. Bacillariophyceae
5. Cryptophyceae
6. Dinophyceae
7. Chloromonadineae
8. Euglenineae
9. Phaeophyceae
10. Rhodophyceae
11. Myxophycea
