Journal of Threatened Taxa |
www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 October 2020 | 12(14): 16979–16992
ISSN 0974-7907 (Online) | ISSN 0974-7893
(Print)
doi: https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.5683.12.14.16979-16992
#5683 | Received 06 January 2020 | Final
received 06 September 2020 | Finally accepted 20 September 2020
Chroococcalean blue green
algae from the paddy fields of Satara District,
Maharashtra, India
Sharada Jagannath
Ghadage 1 & Vaneeta
Chandrashekhar Karande 2
1,2 Department of Botany, Yashwantrao
Chavan Institute of Science, Tal Karad, Satara District, Maharashtra 415001, India.
1 ssharada1980@gmail.com
(corresponding author), 2 vaneetachandra@gmail.com
Abstract: Blue green algae are the
photosynthetic prokaryotes representing a wide distribution in habitat, i.e.,
temperate, tropical, and polar region.
Paddy fields are the best studied aquatic ecosystems on earth which fulfill all the necessary demands required for blue green
algal growth. Blue green algal role in
enhancement of paddy yield has been studied worldwide. Sustainable utilization of an organism for
community use depends on how successfully the ecology of that organism is
understood. Twenty-eight chroococcalean blue green algal taxa were recorded from the
study area. They were taxonomically
investigated and found to belong to two families and 11 genera. The first family Chroococcaceae
was the largest family with 10 genera and 26 species while the second family Entophysalidaceae had only one genus and two species. The genus Gloeocapsa
from the family Chroococcaceae exhibited largest
species diversity (21.42%), as well as taxa Chlorogloea
fritschii of family Entophysalidaceae
showed species abundance from the study area.
All heterocystous blue green algal forms are
capable of fixation of atmospheric N2. Many of the non-heterocystous
or unicellular blue green algae also have the capacity of N2 fixation. The taxonomical documentation of chroococcalean blue green algae provide information about
such indigenous unicellular blue green algae which will help in the development
of niche specific inoculants as biofertilizers for rice fields of the study region.
Keywords: Gloeocapsa,
unicellular, biofertilizer, nitrogen fixation, taxonomy.
Editor: Asheesh Shivam Mishra, Nehru Gram
Bharati (Deemed to be University), Prayagraj, India. Date
of publication: 26 October 2020 (online & print)
Citation: Ghadage, S.J. & V.C. Karande (2020). Chroococcalean blue green algae from the paddy fields of Satara District, Maharashtra, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 12(14): 16979–16992. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.5683.12.14.16979-16992
Copyright: © Ghadage & Karande 2020. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
License. JoTT allows unrestricted use, reproduction,
and distribution of this article in any medium by providing adequate credit to
the author(s) and the source of publication.
Funding: None.
Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.
Author details: Sharada Jagannath
Ghadage graduated
from the University of Kolhapur, Maharashtra and is currently a reasearcher with center for Yashwantrao Chavan Institute of
Science, Satara. She is working as a senior assistant
professor in S.G.M. college, Karad, Maharashtra. She
is currently working on one minor project - Effect of Azolla
biofertilizer on soil quality and developmental stages of various crops. Funded
by RUSA (In process). Dr. Mrs. Vaneeta
Chandrashekhar Karande has 36 years experiance as a professor for PG and UG department in
Botany subject Yashwantrao Chavan Institute of Science, Satara,
Maharashtra. She is Head of Botany department as well as Vice principal in Y.
C. Institute of Science, Satara and is a BOS member
in Shivaji University, Kolhapur. She has completed two minor project on
biodiversity of blue green algae.
Author contribution: SJG—Conceptualized study, collected and analyzed data,
wrote final version of menuscript translated in the
field. VCK—Supervised study, helped in the revision of menuscript.
Acknowledgements: We are thankful to Dr. K. G.
Kanade, Principal, Yashwantrao Chavan Institute of
Science, Satara for the encouragement during the
work. Thanks are also due to the Head Department of Botany Y. C. Institute of
Science, Satara for the facilities. We are thankful
to staff members and colleagues and friends for the keen interest and
suggestions during this work.
Introduction
Blue green algae are important components of soil
microflora in paddy fields. They play an
important role in maintaining and improving soil fertility, as they have the
ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen and transform it to nitrate/nitrite (Anand
1990). The rice fields provide ideal
environment for luxuriant growth of blue-green algae. They are found in paddy field soil throughout
the year at various growth stages of the rice crop (Nayak et al. 2001). There is huge structural diversity found in
class Cyanophyta (blue green algae) which is the main
reason for attracting algologists to develop a keen interest in their taxonomic
study.
Extensive work on blue green algae of paddy fields got
in various parts of India (West Bengal, Kerala, Chattisgarh,
Manipur, Mizoram, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and
Maharashtra) and in Bangladesh (Banarjee 1935; Goyal
et al. 1984; Anand & Revati 1987; Anand et al.
1987, 1995; Santra 1993; Sahu
et al. 1997; Ahmed 2001; Nayak et al. 2001).
There are some reports on growth and nitrogen fixation potentials of
blue green algae (Gupta 1964; Parasad & Mehrotra
1980; Santra 1991).
Some workers recorded marked variations among the species of blue green
algae from rice field soils of different regions of India (Tiwari 1972; Sinha
& Mukherjee 1975a,b, 1984; Anand et al. 1987). Several studies have been conducted on the
blue green algal flora from the paddy fields of Maharashtra (Gonzalves et al. 1949; Sardeshpande
& Goyal 1981; Kolte & Goyal 1985; Patil &
Satav 1986; Madane &
Shinde 1993; Auti & Pingle
2006; Patil & Chougule
2009). Ghadage
& Karande (2008) and Kamble
& Karande (2018) studied the unicellular blue
green algae from various habitats of Satara
District. Ghadage
(2009), Karande (2009), Kamble
(2010), and Ghadage & Karande
(2019), however, studied the biodiversity of blue green algae from paddy fields
of Satara District.
Though substantial studies were available in Satara
District, it seems that much attention was not paid to the study of chroococcalean blue green algae. Thus, the present study was designed to view
the systematic enumeration of chroococcalean blue
green algae of paddy fields from the study region.
Materials and Methods
Two-hundred-and-eighty-eight paddy fields were
selected from Patan and Karad
tehsils of Satara, Maharashtra. Patan is 65km away
to the south-west of Satara and is located at 17.370N
& 73.900E. Most of Patan Tehsil is hilly with deep valleys while some parts
are plains and receives heavy rainfall.
The common soil is red lateritic soil, in the plains it is black cottony
soil while at elevations it is the basaltic and lateritic type. This tehsil is famous for the cultivation of
local varieties of paddy, viz.: Dombya, Dodkya, Kolambya, Bhados, Panwel, Indrayani, Champakali, Ghansal, Jiresal, Teliansh, Kaveri, Krishnakusal,
Basmati, and Ambemohar.
Karad is 52km to the south-east of Satara
and is located at 17.289N & 74.181E.
Karad city situated at southern part of Satara District near Agashiva, at
the confluence of Koyna and Krishna rivers called ‘Preeti sangam’. The tehsil receives moderate rainfall and the
common soil type is black cottony soil.
It is famous for the cultivation of local varieties of rice, viz.: Indrayani, Rethare Basmati, Pusa Basmati, Hansa, Khadkil Kolhapuri, Kolhapuri R-24, and
Kaveri.
Frequent and timely collection of soil and algal
samples were undertaken during the rainy season (2012–2017). Soil samples were collected from paddy fields
of the study area (Fig. 1). Soil from
rice fields were collected randomly from both the tehsils as per Somawanshi et al. (1999).
The collected soil samples were brought into the laboratory using
polythene bags, dried at room temperature in diffused sunlight, and crushed
with the help of a mortar and pestle.
About 10g of sieved soil was inoculated in culture bottles containing
100ml culture media like BG – 11±, Foggs and Chu
10. We found good results in BG 11
medium, so for further culturing and sub culturing we prefer BG 11 ± medium. These cultures were incubated at 22±2˚c with
16/8 light dark cycle under 5 Klux intensity of light, after incubation algal
growth appeared in the enriched cultures in laboratory. Cyanobacterial growth from enriched cultures
were examined microscopically and identified with the help of standard
literature (Dasikachary 1959; Anagnostidis
& Komarek 1985; Anand 1990; Santra
1993). Photographs were taken by using
photomicrography unit of Olympus CH20i (Photoplates
I, II, III).
The species diversity % was calculated by using the
following formula.
Total
no. of particular species recorded in that area
Species diversity %
= ––––––––––––––––––––––X 100
Total no. of species recorded from that area
Result and Discussion
Systematic enumeration of Chroococcalean
blue green algae
Order: Chroococcales Wettstein
Forms of this order are unicellular or colonial, not
differentiated into base and apex; as well as trichome organization totally
absent. Endospores or exospores not
present.
Key to the families
A. Thallus forming small colonies
……...............…..................................................... Chroococcaceae
B. Forming pseudo filamentous thallus
….........................................................… Entophysalidaceae
1. Family: Chroococcaceae Nageli
Cells single or forming shapeless, ellipsoidal or
spherical colonies and cell shape may be spherical or cylindrical, ellipsoidal
with thick mucilaginous membrane.
Key to the genera
A. Cells few in shapeless colony….............……… (1)
1) Spherical cells
…………..........................………..(2)
1) Elongated cells with transverse cell division..(4)
B. Cells many in a colony………................………...(6)
2) Absence of Individual envelope
…............…............................................................Synechosystis
2) Presence of Individual envelope….............…(3)
3) Vesicular sheath……………........……..Gloeocapsa
3) Non vesicular sheath…………..........Chroococcus
4) With firm vesicular sheath….....……Gloeothece
4) Without such sheath…….....................……….(5)
5) Few cells in common mucilage…Synechococcus
5) Cells with tapering ends in spindle shaped
colonies…....................................Dacylococcopsis
6) Cells without definite arrangement…...........(7)
6) Cells with definite arrangement….............….(9)
7) Cells in small well packed colonies
……........................................................................ Microsystis
7) Cells loosely arranged in
colonies…...............(8)
8) Cells spherical………………...…………Aphanocapsa
8) Cells Ellipsoidal to Cylindrical …....Aphanothece
9) Cells in transverse longitudinal rows
…...............................................................…Merismopedia
A] Genus: Aphanocapsa
Nag.
Loosely arranged spherical cells in a formless
gelatinous mass. Cells having individual
sheath which is more or less gelatinous.
Key to the species
1) In freshwater, planktonic………..............………(2)
2) Cells diameter 6.5–7.5µm…..….……..A. roseana
2) Cells diameter 1.42–2 µm…….……...A. elachista
1) Aphanocapsa roseana de Bary
Cyanophyta: Desikachary, T. V. 1959, p
– 132, photoplate II, Fig-h
Thallus irregularly spherical, bluish green in color. Cells 6.5–7.5
µm diameter, somewhat oval, sheath mucilaginous.
Locality: Patan: Nawsari, Mhawshi.
2) Aphanocapsa elachista var irregularis W. et. G.S.West
Cyanophyta: Desikachary, T.V. 1959, p
– 132, pl. 21, Fig. 5, photoplate II, Fig-i
Irregular thallus.
Cells loosely and closely arranged.
Single or in pairs, 1.42–2 µm in diam., blue-green in color.
Locality: Patan: Sangwad, Marul Haweli, Maldan, Tondoshi.
Karad: Undale.
B] Genus : Aphanothece
Nag.
Cells embedded in a shapeless expanded thallus;
ellipsoidal to cylindrical with lamellated individual envelope.
Key to the species
1) Mucilagenous expanded
thallus…….…………..(2)
2) 3.3–5.2 µm broad cells……...........…….A. pallida
2) 3.8–4.3 µm broad cells………….……................(3)
3) Subaerial …………...............…….……….A. naegelli
3) Submerged, non-thermal….…….A. microscopia
1) Aphanothece naegeli Wartm
Cyanophyta: Desikachary, T. V. 1959, p
-141, pl. 22, Fig. 7, photoplate II, Fig-e
Thallus gelatinous, olive green. After division cells appear spherical, latter
on becomes oval, cell breadth 3.8–4.3 µm and length up to 6.6–7.8 µm; sheath
diffluent.
Locality: Patan – Chavanwadi, Gokul tarf Patan, Kokisare, Palashi, Telewadi.
Karad – Pali.
2) Aphanothece microscopia Nag.
Cyanophyta: Desikachary, T.V. 1959, p
- 142, pl. 22, Figs. 4,5,9. Photoplate II, Fig-f
Thallus small, gelatinous, at first rounded, but
latter amorphous; cells cylindrical, 3.9–5 µm broad, 7.5–9 µm long with
distinct individual sheath, bluish-green.
The thallus in culture grows attached at the sides of culture bottles.
Locality: Patan – Kuthare, Nanegaon, Gokul tarf Marali, Vitthalwadi.
Karad – Atke, Sabalwadi,
Riswad, Chinchni, Abaichiwadi, Supane, Sajur, Kole.
3) Aphanothece
pallida (kutz.) Rabenh.
Cyanophyta: Desikachary, T.V. 1959, p
-140, pl. 22, Fig. 3. Photoplate II, Fig-g
Thallus appear gelatinous and soft,cells
oblong, 3.3–5.2µm broad, up to 7µm long, olive green in color,
sheath lamellated, yellowish in color.
Locality: Patan - Yeradwadi, Shitapwadi, Pachgani.
Karad – Talgaon, Shiwade, Charegaon, Pal.
C] Genus: Gloeocapsa
Kutzing.
Cells mostly 2–8 in a colony and spherical in
shape. Colonies many together. Cells having lamellated individual sheaths.
Key to the species
1) Colorless
sheath……...............................……..(2)
2) Unlamellated
sheath….............................……(3)
2) Lamellated
sheath………................................ (8)
3) Without calcium impregnation….............……(4)
4) Cells 3µm without sheath…….................…….(5)
4) 5µm broad cells without sheath….….. Gl. livida
5)Thallus blue green…………..……….Gl. aeruginosa
6) Lamellated sheath…………….......………Gl. atrata
6) Unlamellated
sheath………………...............….(7)
7) 4.2–5.32 µm broad cells without sheath…....…
......................................................
Gl. nigrescens
8) Cell diameter 8µm without sheath……......…...
..................................................... Gl.
decorticans
8) Cells 3.9µm diameter without sheath........……
..............................................…Gl. polydermatica
1) Goeocapsa nigrescens Nag.
Cyanophyta: Desikachary, T. V. 1959, p
-117, pl. 24, Figs. 15, 17. Photoplate I, Fig-g
Thallus thin, blackish, cells spherical, without
sheath 4.2–5.32 µm; and with sheath 9.31–11.6 µm diam., sheath broad, not
lamellate.
Locality: Patan – Nade, Telewadi.
Karad – Karve, Dhanakwadi.
2) Goeocapsa atrata (Turp.) Kutz.
Cyanophyta: Desikachary, T.V. 1959, p
- 116, pl. 24, Fig. 8. Photoplate I, Fig-c
Thallus blackish in color. Cells without sheath up to 5.68µm broad and
with sheath 9.5–12.5µm in diam. Many
cells in a single colony, sheath colorless, unlamellated.
Locality: Patan – Korivale, Bambavade, Govare, Jyotibachiwadi, Zakade.
Karad – Kaletake.
3) Goeocapsa polydermatica Kutz.
Cyanophyta: Desikachary, T.V. 1959, p
- 114, pl. 25, Fig. 1, photoplate I, Fig-d-e
Thallus mostly compact and mucilaginous; cells
spherical, without sheath 3.9µm and with sheath 6.65µm in diam., bluish-green
to colorless sheath and thick, and lamellated.
Locality: Patan – Divashi, Kadhne, Marloshi, Vitthalwadi.
4) Goeocapsa decorticans (A. Br.) Richter
Cyanophyta: Desikachary, T.V. 1959, p
-114, pl. 24, Fig. 9. Photoplate I, Fig-b
Cells spherical to oval, bluish in color,
2–4 together, with sheath up to 19µm in diam., and without sheath 8µm broad,
sheath colorless, thick.
Locality: Patan – Jamdarwadi, Sangwad.
Karad - Pachwad, Yenke.
5) Goeocapsa
aeruginosa (Carm.) Kutz.
Cyanophyta: Desikachary, T.V. 1959, p
-115. Photoplate I, Fig-f
Thallus mucilaginous, crustaceous. Cells with sheath 5.68µm broad and without
sheath 2.84–3 µm broad. Cells in
spherical colonies, sheath lamellated.
Locality: Patan – Urul, Surul, Gokul tarf Patan, Shiral,
Telewadi.
6) Goeocapsa livida (Carm.) Kutz.
Cyanophyta: Desikachary, T. V. 1959, p
- 116, pl. 27, Fig. 8.Photoplate I, Fig-a
Thallus mucilaginous greenish in color. Cells small, cells up to 5µm broad and colony
diam. 11.8µm. Sheath hyaline, bluish-green.
Locality: Patan – Navadi, Gavanwadi, Kuthare, Ambavane, Jambhekarwadi, Govare, Jyotibachiwadi.
D] Genus: Gloeothece
Nag.
Cells ellipsoidal, straight in small colonies. Sheath and colony structure same as that of Gloeocapsa.
Key to the species
1) Mucilage envelope colorless…………............(2)
2) Cells 2.5–4.5 µm without envelope…….......(3)
2) Cells 4–6 µm broad………………..................…(4)
3) Cells cylindrical…………..................……Gl. palea
3) Cells ellipsoidal …………..........…..Gl. samoensis
4) Cells ellipsoidal to cylindrical up to 15µm long
...................................................…….Gl.
rupestris
1) Gloeothece palea (Kutz.) Rabenh.
Cyanophyta: Desikachary, T. V. 1959, p
-127. Photoplate
I, Fig-h
Cells cylindrical and long, without envelope 2.5–4.5
µm in diameter. Cells with envelope
8.52µm broad and 9.94µm long, unlamellated, envelope
lightly yellowish in color.
Locality: Patan – Ambeghar tarf Marali,
Kusavade Khu.
Karad – Karve, Wadgaon haweli, Vadoli bhikeshwar, Korti, Bholewadi.
2) Gloeothece rupestrist (Lyngb.) Bornet
Cyanophyta: Desikachary, T.V. 1959, p
- 127, pl. 25, Fig. 4. Photoplate I, Fig-j-k
Cells
ellipsoidal, without envelope 4.2–5.5 µm broad, 7.5–8µm long, cells with
envelope 9–12 µm broad, cells 2–4 together, envelope colorless,
unlamellated.
Locality: Patan – Telewadi, Sawantwadi, Majgaon, Surul, Karate.
Karad – Rethre Bu., Charegaon.
3) Gloeothece samoensis Wille
Cyanophyta: Desikachary, T.V. 1959, p
-128, pl. 23, Fig. 3. Photoplate I, Fig-i
Cells ellipsoidal, without sheath 4–4.2 µm broad and
about 8µm long, cells yellowish in color, in
ellipsoidal colonies, cells with unlamellated
envelope.
Locality: Patan – Yeradwadi, Umarkanchan, Yerphale, Donichawada.
E] Genus : Chroococcus
Nag.
Cells in small groups 2–4 together or sometimes 8–16
together. Cells spherical to
hemispherical in shape with distinct and firm individual sheaths.
Key to the species
1) Cells single /8 (-16) later
divided……..........….(2)
1) Large thallus formed…….........................……..(6)
2) Sheath lamellated
…….........................………..(3)
2) Not lamellated
…………........................…...…...(5)
3) Colorless
envelope……...........................………(4)
4) Sheath distinct, cells with sheath less than
32µm broad ......................................Chr.
turgidus
5) Cells 4–10 µm without sheath.......Chr. minutus
5) Cells 3–4 µm without sheath ……......Chr. minor
6) Subaerial colonies………........................………(7)
7) Unlamellated
sheath…......................………….(8)
8) Cells 4 –8 µm broad without sheath……......……
...........................................................Chr.
Pallidus
8) Cells less than 2µm broad without sheath ......
.......................................……….Chr. multicoloratus
1) Chroococcus minutus (Kutz.) Nag.
Cyanophyta: Desikachary, T.V. 1959, p
-103, pl. 24, Fig. 4 and pl. 26, Figs. 4, 15.
Photoplate II, Fig-d
Cells spherical, single or in groups of 2,
bluish-green, with sheath 7.8µm broad and without sheath 6.5µm in
diameter. Colonies 12.78µm broad sheath
not lamellated, colorless.
Locality: Patan – Awarde, Salave.
Karad – Kaletake, Shiwade, Koparde haweli, Charegaon, Bholewadi, Shelkewadi.
2) Chroococcus
minor (Kutz.) Nag.
Cyanophyta: Desikachary, T.V. 1959, p
- 105, pl. 24, Fig. 1. Photoplate II, Fig-b
Thallus olive green in color,
gelatinous, cells spherical, 3.3–3.5 µm in diameter. Mostly single, sheath colorless,
very thin.
Locality: Patan – Matekarwadi.
Karad – Kale, Hanbarwadi.
3) Chroococcus multicoloratus Wood.
Cyanophyta: Desikachary, T.V. 1959, p
- 109. Photoplate
II, Fig-c
Thallus mucilaginous mostly found among other algae;
cells spherical, single or 2–4 together in a colony. Cells about 1µm in diameter. Sheath thick, unlamellated,
hyaline, yellowish green.
Locality: Patan – Varekarwadi, Vajegaon.
Karad – Kaletake.
4) Chroococcus turgidus (Kutz.) Nag.
Cyanophyta: Desikachary, T.V. 1959, p
- 101, pl. 26, Fig. 6. Photoplate I, Fig-l
Cells spherical, mostly in groups of three, olive green in color,
without sheath 8–15 µm broad, with sheath 16–25 µm broad; sheath colorless, not lamellated.
Locality: Patan – Kumbhargaon, Awarde, Kusavade.
5) Chroococcus
pallidus Nag.
Cyanophyta: Desikachary, T.V. 1959, p
- 108, pl. 26, Fig. 5. Photoplate II, Fig-a
Thallus gelatinous yellowish, cells in group of two,
without sheath 5–6 µm broad and with sheath 7–8 µm broad bluish green in color.
Locality: Patan – Shidrukwadi, Budakewadi, Gaymukhwadi, Donichawada.
Karad – Charegaon.
F] Genus: Synechosystis
Sauvageau
Cells spherical, single, after division found in
colonies without mucilage envelope.
Key to the species
1) Cells diameter 2.8–3.5 µm……………..S. pevalekii
1) Synechosystis pevalekii Ercegovic
Cyanophyta: Desikachary, T.V. 1959, p
- 145, pl. 25, Fig. 11, photoplate III, Fig-a
Thallus associated among other algae; cells spherical
or hemispherical, 2.84–3.5 µm broad, and colony breadth 3–5.68 µm. content
bluish-green in color and homogenous.
Locality: Patan - Adul, Sangwad, Gaymukhwadi.
Karad – Yevati.
G] Genus: Synechococcus Nag.
Cells ellipsoidal with rounded ends, mostly cells are
single. Mucilage envelope very thin.
Key to the species
1) Cells broader than 5µm …...................…………..
...................................................Syn.
aeruginosus
1) Cells 3–4.3 µm broad ellipsoidal …................…
........................................................Syn.
cedrorum
1) Synechococcus aeruginosus Nag.
Cyanophyta: Desikachary, T. V. 1959, p
- 143, pl. 25, Figs. 6, 12. Photoplate III, Fig-c
Cells cylindrical, 5.32–6.2 µm broad, up to 27µm long,
single, pale bluish-green in color.
Locality: Patan – Nade, Jalu, Atoli.
Karad – Pachwad.
2) Synechococcus cedrorum Sauvageau
Cyanophyta: Desikachary, T. V. 1959, p
- 144. Photoplate
III, Fig-b
Cells single, elongate to rounded, up to 3.9µm broad;
and 5.4–6 µm long, bluish-green in color.
Locality: Patan – Divashi, Dhadamwadi.
H] Genus: Microsystis
Kutzing.
Cells spherical in shape and embedded in net-like
colonies. Cells densely arranged and not
having individual envelope.
Key to the species:
1) In fresh
water……................................……….(2)
2) Spherical
cells…….................................………(3)
2) Elongated
cells……...............................……...(4)
3) 6–9 µm broad cells………….........…...M. robusta
4) 2–4.5 µm broad cells…….........………M. elabens
1) Microsystis elabens (Breb.) Kutz.
Cyanophyta: Desikachary, T.V. 1959, p
- 97, pl. 18, Fig. 12 and pl. 20, Figs. 6, 7.
Photoplate II, Fig-k-i
Colony flat, bluish-green in color,
daughter colonies come close together when become old; cells 2.2–3.6µm broad
and up to 6.6µm long.
Locality: Karad – Potale.
2) Microsystis robusta (Clark) Nygaard
Cyanophyta: Desikachary, T.V. 1959, p
- 85, pl. 17, Figs. 7–10. Photoplate II, Fig-j
Colonies first globose latter on irregularly expanded;
cells spherical, with distinct gelatinous sheath. Cells spherical and 6.65µm in diameter.
Locality: Patan – Navadi, Girewadi, Marul haweli, Padloshi,
Konjavade, Varpewadi, Atoli.
Karad – Karve, Dhanakwadi, Belavde haweli, Bamanwadi.
I] Genus: Dactylococcopsis
Hansgirg.
Cells are elongated, spindle-shaped with pointed
ends. Ends somewhat bent.
Key to the species
1) Cells breadth 1.85µm and length 6.6µm ........
............................. Dactylococcopsis
raphidioides
1) Dactylococcopsis
raphidioides Hansg.
Cyanophyta: Desikachary, T.V. 1959, p
- 158, pl. 29, Figs. 1, 2. Photoplate III, Fig-e
Cells spindle shaped, 1.85µm broad and 6.63µm long,
light blue-green in color, mostly single in the
mucilage of other algae.
Locality: Patan – Navsari, Nanegaon, Gokul tarf Patan, Telewadi.
J] Genus : Merismopedia
Meyen
Cells in a homogenous mucilage and are 4–16 together
in a tabular colonies. Arrangement of
cells in a single plane.
Key to the specie
1) Cells about 5µm broad ………..........................
...........................…….. Merismopedia
tenuissima
1) Merismopedia tenuissima Lemm.
Cyanophyta: Desikachary, T.V. 1959, p
- 154, pl. 29, Fig. 7 and pl. 30, Figs. 8, 9.
Photoplate III, Fig-d
Cells pale bluish-green in color,
closely packed in colonies of sixteen cells, sub spherical, about 2µm broad,
without distinct individual mucilage.
Locality: Patan – Keloli.
2. Family: Entophysalidaceae Geitler
Thallus mostly attached to the substratum, cell
arrangement in regular or irregular group of rows. Cells spherical or ellipsoidal in shape
without individual sheath and not forming typical filament forms.
A] Genus: Chlorogloea
Wille.
Cells mostly in straight erect rows, they are
ellipsoidal to spherical in shape without individual envelopes. Cell divides in
a single direction.
Key to the species
1) Cells diameter 2–3.8 µm…….Chl. microcystoides
1) Cells diameter 6–8 µm…..............….Chl. fritschii
1) Chlorogloea fritschii Mitra
Cyanophyta: Desikachary, T.V. 1959, p
- 163, pl. 31, Figs. 1–16. Photoplate III, Fig-g
Thallus deep bluish-green in color,
cell arrangement vertical as well as horizontal rows like, cells usually about
8µm in diameter, cells single or in groups of two, or four or more cells.
Locality: Patan – Adul, Sangwad, Divshi, Tupewadi, Chavanwadi, Kadave b., Donglewadi, Natoshi,
Palashi, Gokul tarf Patan, Telewadi.
Karad – Karve, Pachwad, Dhondewadi, Kale, Botrewadi, Yenpe, Akaichiwadi, Saidapur, Wadoli nileshwar, Shahapur, Shiwade, Hanumanwadi, Varade, Umbraj, Andharwadi, Hingnole, Chore, Chorajwadi, Pal,
Hanumannagar (Karad city), Tembu, Hajarmachi, Riswad, Gaikwadwadi, Potale, Kole.
2) Chlorogloea microcystoides Geitler
Cyanophyta: Desikachary, T. V. 1959, p
- 163, pl. 19, Fig. 8. Photoplate III, Fig-f
Thallus gelatinous, thin, dull green in color; cells spherical, closely arranged in erect or radial
rows of more or less indistinct rows without individual envelope. Cells 2.5–3.6 µm in diameter.
Locality: Patan – Jamdarwadi, Varekarwadi, Nanegaon.
Karad – Malkapur, Savade, Hanumanwadi, Antavadi, Mundhe, Vijaynagar.
Patan and Karad
tehsils of Satara districts are famous for paddy
cultivation. An extensive study was made
in search of diversity, distribution and occurrence of chroococcalean
cyanobacteria. Order chroococcales
contains two families—Chroococcaceae and Entophysalidaceae.
Eleven genera and 28 eight species were recorded by screening 288 paddy
field localities of study area. From
family chroococcaceae 10 genera and 26 species were
recorded. Genus Gloeocapsa
with six species; followed by genera Chroococcus
with five species, Gloeothece and Aphanothece with three species were dominant. While from family Entophysalidaceae
only one genus Chlorogloea with two species,
i.e., Chlorogloea fritschii
and C. microcystoides were
reported. But these two forms were
frequently recorded from the study area.
Genus Gloeocapsa showed species diversity i.e., six species of
single genera recorded in study area while genus Chlorogloea
with two species reported to be dominant taxa
i.e., reported in most of the paddy fields repeatedly.
Some interesting observations
were made while isolating and culturing of unicellular forms from paddy field
soils of Patan and Karad
tehsils. Generally at the beginning
filamentous forms appear in the culture bottles while unicellular forms
appeared in old cultures. The members
from family Chroococcaceae showed coccoid appearance,
they form smooth gelatinous loose colonies while members of family Entophysalidaceae are also coccoid but show colonial growth
habit. The cells grow to give dense
parenchymatous mass. The growth habitat
in culture condition of these taxa become helpful to differentiate them
visually.
Wyatt & Silcey
(1969) also studied nitrogen fixation of chroococcalean
blue green alga Gloeocapsa species while Zhou
& Chen (1991) recorded their efficiency for nitrogen fixation. Our study area also showed predominance of Gloeocapsa species with high species
diversity percentage (21.42%) denote species diversity from the study area;
followed by Chroococcus with 17.85%, Gloeothece and Aphanothece
with 10.71% and Aphanocapsa, Microsystis, and Synechococcus
with 7.14%. This showed their moderate
occurrence in the paddy fields of study region.
Least species diversity percentage was recorded in Chlorogloea,
Merismopedia, Dactylococcopsis,
and Synechosystis (3.57%) (Table 1) (Figure
2). Nitrogen fixation by Gloeothece species was noted by Maryan
et al. (1986). The least diverse species
did not show their adaptability for changing pH condition of the cultures and
they vanish very soon. But Gloeocapsa, Chroococcus,
Gloeothece, and Aphanothece
proved their adaptability to changing pH. Chlorogloea
fritschii showed high dominance (reported from 11
localities of Patan Tehsil and 26 localities of Karad Tehsil) followed by Microsytis,
Chroococcus & Gloeothece. This data would provide the knowledge about
such indigenous chroococcalean species which showed
species diversity and occur frequently in paddy soil cultures. This will help in development of niche
specific inoculants as biofertilizers for rice fields of the study region.
The abundant growth of chroococcophyceae members in aquatic environment especially
planktonic state than in terrestrial environment was recorded by Naz et al. (2003).
They surveyed fresh water cyanophyta from
certain areas of northern region of Pakistan and Azad Kashmir. Naz et al. (2004)
reported 46 planktonic, edaphic, epipsammic, epioikotic, epilithic & epiphytic blue green algae
belonging to class Chroococcophyceae (cyanophyta) from various fresh water habitats of
Pakistan. They reported these chroococcalean forms from various habitalts;
but we recorded 28 chroococcalean taxa from paddy
field soil cultures only. Nitrogen
fixation by unicellular blue green algae Aphanothece
was reported by Singh (1973).
Majority taxa found in paddy in fresh form as well as in soil cultures
was of filamentous heterocystous and filamentous non-heterocystous type.
Non-heterocystous chroococcalean
cyanobacteria, however, also fixes
atmospheric nitroge (Wyatt & Silvery
1969). Huang & Chow (1988) showed
comparative account of nitrogen fixing unicellular cyanobacteria from rice
fields. Capacity of nitrogen fixation by
chroococcalean blue green algae Aphanothece
pallida was recorded by Van et al. (1988) by isolating it from paddy
fields. Unicellular forms were not
recorded from paddy fields in the study region (Not as field collected
specimens). They showed their occurrence
in paddy soil cultures only and especially when cultures become 3–4 weeks
old. The reason behind less number of chroococcalean taxa is, majority of the chroococcalean
forms occur in soil cultures; not in field conditions and especially when soil cultures becomes 3–4 weeks old.
At first filamentous heterosystous and filamentous non-heterosystous
forms occur in cultures and when cultures became old (3–4 weeks) and when the
nitrogen content of the medium slow down, chroococcalean
forms grow upward direction in the culture bottles. Out of 28 chroococcalean
blue green algal forms, 18 forms show common occurrence, nine restricted to
paddy field soils of Patan Tehsil and only one taxa
restricted to paddy field soils of Karad Tehsil. Detailed distribution of chroococcalean
blue green algae in study area is given in tabular form (Table 2).
Taxonomic as well as ecological
study of chroococcalean blue green algae was done
from paddy fields of many regions of the world.
Roger (1985) made a report on mucilaginous bloom of unicellular blue
green algae and its application as a biofertilizer. Majority forms recorded at field and cultures
are filamentous heterosystous and filamentous non-heterosystous type.
Ahmed & Kalita (2002) recorded abundance
of unicellular chroococcalean forms in paddy
fields. They isolated 53 chroococcalean forms from paddy fields of Nagaon. Our observations differ from them, we did not
find abundance of chroococcalean forms in the field,
only paddy field soil cultures showed
their presence and especially when cultures become old. Cyanobacterial distribution pattern from
paddy field soils of Konkan region, Maharashtra has been studied by Sardeshpande & Goyal (1981). Roger & Reynaud (1979) reported luxuriant
growth of blue green algae from rice fields of Japan. Mukhopadhyay & Chatterjee (1980)
published a checklist of paddy field blue green algae from West Bengal. Nitrogen fixing potential in rice fields of
Sri Lanka studied by Kulasooriya & De Silva
(1978). Cyanobacterial taxa from Tripura
was studied by Singh et al. (1997).
Aerobic growth and nitrogenase activity of marine unicellular blue green
alga Synechococcus was reported by Duerr & Mitsui (1980).
Dhanya & Ray (2015) studied cyanobacterial
diversity and ecology from Kuttanadu paddy wetlands
of Kerala. Prasad & Prasad (2003)
showed increase in rice yield up to 5–24 % by applying cyano-biofertilizers in
paddy fields of Nepal. A large variety
of cyanobacterial species fix nitrogen and their importance to improve soil
fertility for sustainable agriculture in submerged and irrigated rice
cultivation is well recognized by Saikia & Bordoloi (1994). The
great majority of cyanobacteria that fixed atmospheric nitrogen were probably heterocystous (Rodrigo & Eberto
2007), however non-heterocystous unicellular
cyanobacteria also fixed atmospheric nitrogen (Wyatt & Silvery 1969). Aerobic nitrogen fixation without heterocyst
was studied by Carpenter & Price (1976) in Marine Oscillatoria
(Trichodesmium species). In our study area we found high diversity of Gloeocapsa species and dominance of Chlorogloea species which could serve as the best
nitrogen fertilizer for paddy. Our
observations differed with those proposed by Chudhary
(2009) that members of Chroococcaceae are dominant in
paddy fields. We found least abundance
of chroococcaceae members in field condition as well
as in culture condition. Majority taxa
recorded was filamentous type. Algae
stabilize the surface layer of soil, prevent soil erosion, improve infiltration
of water, produce organic matter in the soil by death and decay of algae &
hence increase soil fertility (Dawes 1998).
Thus the role of unicellular blue green algae in nitrogen economy of
paddy fields is recorded by many studies all over the world. Culture study of these unicellular taxa
showed that the rate of survival and N2 fixing capacity of chroococcaceae members, viz., Gloeocapsa,
Oscillatoria (Trichodesmium
species & Synechococcus is more (Wyatt
& Silvery 1969; Carpenter & Price 1976; Duerr
& Mitsui 1980). Therefore taxonomic
documentation of unicellular blue green algae will provide the knowledge about
such sturdy and durable indigenous species of chroococcalean
blue green algae which will help in development of niche specific inoculants as
biofertilizers for rice fields in the study region
Conclusion
The present study showed
diversity and dominance of chroococcalean blue green
algae. Overall the data obtained by
thorough screening of paddy field soils indicates the dominance of heterocystous filamentous taxa followed by non-heterocystous taxa; besides these unicellular taxa also
showed diversity and abundance of taxa from paddy soil cultures of study
region. Study reports also showed
beneficial role of many unicellular blue green algae in nitrogen economy of paddy
soil. Our study area showed genus Gloeocapsa with high species diversity
(21.42%) followed by Chroococcus, Aphanothece & Gloeothece
from family Chroococcaceae
& species dominance with Chlorogloea followed
by Microsystis, Chroococcus
& Gloeothece from family Entophysalidaceae.
This survey on chroococcalean blue green algae
will help in developing niche specific inoculum of indigenous species of the
study area. These local strains should
be cultured on a large scale for their mass production which would serve the
best and low cost biofertilizer especially for paddy fields.
Table 1.
Species diversity percentage
of Chroococcalean taxa from study area.
|
|
Genera |
Species |
No. of
particular species |
Species diversity
% |
|
1 |
Chroococcus |
Chroococcus minutus |
05 |
17.85 % |
|
2 |
|
Chroococcus multicoloratus |
||
|
3 |
|
Chroococcus minor |
||
|
4 |
|
Chroococcus turgidus |
||
|
5 |
|
Chroococcus pallidus |
||
|
6 |
Gloeothece |
Gloeothece palea |
03 |
10.71 % |
|
7 |
|
Gloeothece rupestris |
||
|
8 |
|
Gloeothece samoensis |
||
|
9 |
Gloeocapsa |
Gloeocapsa atrata |
06 |
21.42 % |
|
10 |
|
Gloeocapsa nigrescence |
||
|
11 |
|
Gloeocapsa decorticans |
||
|
12 |
|
Gloeocapsa aeruginosa |
||
|
13 |
|
Gloeocapsa livida |
||
|
14 |
|
Gloeocapsa polydermatica |
||
|
15 |
Aphanothece |
Aphanothece microscopia |
03 |
10.71 % |
|
16 |
|
Aphanothece naegelii |
||
|
17 |
|
Aphanothece pallida |
||
|
18 |
Aphanocapsa |
Aphanocapsa roseana |
02 |
7.14 % |
|
19 |
|
Aphanocapsa elachista var irregularis |
||
|
20 |
Microsystis |
Microsystis robusta |
02 |
7.14 % |
|
21 |
|
Microsystis elabens |
||
|
22 |
Synechococcus |
Synechococcus cedrorum |
02 |
7.14 % |
|
23 |
|
Synechococcus aeruginosus |
||
|
24 |
Synechosystis |
Synechosystis pevalekii |
01 |
3.57 % |
|
25 |
Dactylococcopsis |
Dactylococcopsis raphidioides |
01 |
3.57 % |
|
26 |
Merismopedia |
Merismopedia tenuissima |
01 |
3.57 % |
|
27 |
Chlorogloea |
Chlorogloea fritschii |
02 |
7.14 |
|
28 |
|
Chlorogloea microcystoides |
||
|
|
Total No. of species |
28 |
100 % |
|
Table 2. Distribution of Chroococcalean
blue green algal species in study area.
|
Order |
Family |
Genera |
Species |
Taxa from Patan Tehsil |
Taxa from Karad Tehsil |
Common taxa (from both the Tehsils) |
|
Chroococcales |
1) Chroococc aceae |
1) Chroococcus |
Chroococcus minutus |
- |
- |
+ |
|
|
|
|
Chr. multicolor Ataus |
- |
- |
+ |
|
|
|
|
Chr. minor |
- |
- |
+ |
|
|
|
|
Chr. turgidus |
+ |
- |
- |
|
|
|
|
Chr. pallidus |
- |
- |
+ |
|
|
|
2) Gloeothece |
Gloeothece palea |
- |
- |
+ |
|
|
|
|
Gl. rupestris |
- |
- |
+ |
|
|
|
|
Gl. samoensis |
+ |
- |
- |
|
|
|
3) Gloeocapsa |
Gloeocapsa atrata |
- |
- |
+ |
|
|
|
|
Gl. nigrescence |
- |
- |
+ |
|
|
|
|
Gl. decorticans |
- |
- |
+ |
|
|
|
|
Gl. aeruginosa |
+ |
- |
- |
|
|
|
|
Gl. livida |
+ |
- |
- |
|
|
|
|
Gl. polydermatica |
+ |
- |
- |
|
|
|
4) Aphanothece |
Aphanothece microscopia |
- |
- |
+ |
|
|
|
|
A. naegelii |
- |
- |
+ |
|
|
|
|
A.pallida |
- |
- |
+ |
|
|
|
5) Aphanocapsa |
Aphanocapsa roseana |
- |
- |
+ |
|
|
|
|
A. elachista var irregularis |
- |
- |
+ |
|
|
|
6) Microsystis |
Microsystis robusta |
- |
- |
+ |
|
|
|
|
M. elabens |
- |
+ |
- |
|
|
|
7) Synechococcus |
Synechococcus cedrorum |
+ |
- |
- |
|
|
|
|
S. aeruginosus |
- |
- |
+ |
|
|
|
8) Synechosystis |
Synechosystis pevalekii |
+ |
- |
- |
|
|
|
9) Dactylococcopsis |
Dactylococcopsis raphidioides |
+ |
- |
- |
|
|
|
10) Merismopedia |
Merismopedia tenuissima |
+ |
- |
- |
|
|
2)Entophysaledaceae |
1) Chlorogloea |
Chlorogloea fritschii |
- |
- |
+ |
|
|
|
|
Chl. microcystoides |
- |
- |
+ |
|
Taxa Present = sign + Taxa absent =
sign - |
||||||
For
figures & images - - click here
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