Dicloster

{{Short description|Genus of algae}} {{Speciesbox | genus = Dicloster | parent_authority = C.-C.Jao, Y.S.Wei & H.C.Hu | species = acuatus | authority = C.-C.Jao, Y.S.Wei & H.C.Hu<ref name=AlgaeBase>{{AlgaeBase genus|id= 47481 |title=''Dicloster'' C.-C.Jao, Y.S.Wei & H.C.Hu, 1976 |access-date=2025-01-12}}</ref> }}

'''''Dicloster''''' is a genus of green algae in the family Chlorellaceae, containing the sole species '''''Dicloster acuatus'''''.<ref>See the NCBI [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?mode=Info&id=91189 webpage on Dicloster]. Data extracted from the {{cite web | url=https://ftp.ncbi.nih.gov/pub/taxonomy/ | title=NCBI taxonomy resources | publisher=National Center for Biotechnology Information | access-date=2007-03-19}}</ref> It is found in freshwater habitats as plankton, and is distributed around the world.<ref name=AlgaeBase/>

''Dicloster acuatus'' is a colonial alga, consisting of coenobia of two or four cells, attached at their centers (in four-celled colonies, the two pairs of cells are arranged in different levels). Cells are 30–60 μm long and 3–9 μm wide, narrowly crescent-shaped, with narrowly tapering apices, pointing away from the center. Cells are embedded in a mucilaginous matrix. The cell wall is smooth. Cells contain a single nucleus with a single, parietal chloroplast and up to five (typically one or two) pyrenoids).<ref name=AlgaeBase/>

Reproduction occurs asexually by the formation of autospores, with each cell forming up to four coenobia. Sexual reproduction or zoospores have not been recorded from this genus.<ref name=AlgaeBase/>

Because of its coenobial morphology resembling genera such as ''Scenedesmus'' or ''Selenastrum'', it has been placed in the families Scenedesmaceae and Selenastraceae at points. However, analysis of 18S ribosomal RNA and ITS2 sequences have shown that it is more closely related to genera such as ''Parachlorella'' in the family Chlorellaceae.<ref>{{cite journal|doi=10.2216/i0031-8884-43-5-529.1 |title=Phylogenetic relationship of ''Chlorella'' and ''Parachlorella'' gen. nov. (Chlorophyta, Trebouxiophyceae) |date=2004 |last1=Krienitz |first1=Lothar |last2=Hegewald |first2=Eberhard H. |last3=Hepperle |first3=Dominik |last4=Huss |first4=Volker A. R. |last5=Rohr |first5=Thomas |last6=Wolf |first6=Matthias |journal=Phycologia |volume=43 |issue=5 |pages=529–542 |bibcode=2004Phyco..43..529K }}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist|1}}

Category:Trebouxiophyceae genera Category:Chlorellaceae Category:Freshwater algae Category:Monotypic algae genera