Biology

Nostoc : Structure Different Types of Reproduction and Importance

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Nostoc belongs to the group Cyanophyta of kingdom Monera. It is blue-green algae. Nostoc is
common as terrestrial and subaerial cyanobacteria. It is widely distributed in alkaline soils, moist
rocks, water ponds, streams, and lakes etc. Nostoc colony forms a jelly-like mass. Many filaments are
embedded in this mass. The individual filament is called trichome. Trichome is unbranched and it
appears bead-like structure.

Structure of Nostoc
The body of Nostoc is called thallus. It is a simple body and consists of many threads like structures,
called filament. Each filament is composed of many rounded cells which are arranged in a chain like
manner or in beaded form. All the cells are similar. The whole filament is covered by a gelatinous
sheath.
In the filament, some cells are larger in size and thick-walled, called heterocysts. These cells perform
two functions, reproduction and Nitrogen Fixation. In Nitrogen fixation, Nitrogen is converted into
simpler Nitrogen compounds, which are used by the plant.

Trichomes are unbranched and appear beaded. Individual cells are mostly spherical but sometimes
barrel-shaped or cylindrical. All cells in trichome are mostly similar in structure but at intervals are
found slightly large, round, light yellowish thick-walled cells called as heterocysts. Trichomes mostly
break near heterocyst and forms hormogonia and thus help in fragmentation.

Structure of a cell of Nostoc

Each cell of Nostoc is rounded in shape. It is covered by an outer cell wall. The protoplasm of the cell
consists of two parts:

a)     CHROMOPLASM
It is the outer colored part along the cell wall, which contains blue-green pigments (Phycocyanin). It
also prepares food material due to the presence of Chlorophyll pigments.

b)     CENTROPLASM OR CENTRAL BODY

It is the inner colorless part of the cell, which contains stored food granules. It also acts as a nucleus.
The cell does not contain a true nucleus. The central body performs the function of the nucleus. It has
no nuclear membrane or nucleolus, so it is called incipient nucleus. i.e.(Incomplete nucleus).

Reproduction in Nostoc
Sexual reproduction is absent in Nostoc. In Nostoc, the reproduction takes place by the following
methods:

1.      By Hormogonia OR by Fragmentation

Hormogonia are formed by Fragmentation. The filament breaks at different points and each broken
filament is called hormogonia. The filament breaks due to decay and death of ordinary cells.
Heterocyst may form the breaking point. Each hormogonium grows into a new filament by repeated
cell division.

2.      By Arthrospores OR by Akinetes Formation

During unfavorable conditions, some cells of filament become enlarge and they are covered by a
thick wall, they are called Akinetes or Arthrospores or Resting Spores. They also store food material.
They germinate during favorable conditions into new filaments.

3.      By Heterocyst
 At the time of reproduction, the heterocysts are separated from Nostoc filament. These heterocysts
are changed into a normal reproductive cell. By the process of cell division, it is converted into a new
filament.

Nutrition in Nostoc
Nostoc contains chlorophyll, so it can manufacture its own food i.e. it is Autotroph in nature.

Importance of Cyanobacteria
Cyanobacteria (Blue, Green Algae) use carbon dioxide and release oxygen during
photosynthesis, so environment becomes fresh and is used by aquatic animals.

They take part in Nitrogen Fixation.

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