{{Short description|Genus of algae}} {{Automatic taxobox | image = Monoraphidium arcuatum.jpg | image_caption = ''Monoraphidium arcuatum'' | taxon = Monoraphidium | authority = Komárková-Legnerová | type_species = ''Monoraphidium neglectum'' | type_species_authority = (Berkeley) Komárková-Legnerová<ref name=AlgaeBase/> | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = * ''M. braunii'' * ''M. minutum'' * ''M. dybowskii'' * ''M. terrestre'' * ''M. neglectum'' * ''M. circinale'' * ''M. contortum'' * ''M. pusillum'' * ''M. convolutum'' * ''M. griffithii'' * ''M. sp. Itas 9/21 14-6w'' * ''M. saxatile'' * ''M. sp. Itas 8/18 S-1d'' * ''M. sp. Itas 9/21 14-1w'' * ''M. sp. GK12'' * ''M. sp. Dek19'' | synonyms = }}
'''''Monoraphidium''''' is a genus of green algae in the family Selenastraceae.<ref>See the NCBI [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?mode=Info&id=34111 webpage on Monoraphidium]. 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> ''Monoraphidium'' is found free-floating or attached to surfaces in water, or in soils.<ref name=AlgaeBase/> It is one of the most common types of phytoplankton in freshwater habitats, and has a cosmopolitan distribution.<ref name=Bicudo_and_Menezes2006>{{cite book | title= Gêneros de Algas de Águas Continentais do Brasil: chave para identificação e descrições | edition=2 | year=2006 | first1=Carlos E. M. |last1=Bicudo | first2=Mariângela | last2= Menezes | publisher= RiMa Editora | pages=508 | isbn= 857656064X }}</ref>
''Monoraphidium'' consists of single cells, which are 2-182 by 1-8 micrometers. The cell is straight to lunate to sigmoid or helically shaped. Cells contain a single nucleus, a single parietal chloroplast and a single pyrenoid lacking a starch sheath (or no pyrenoid at all). Reproduction occurs asexually by autospores.<ref name=AlgaeBase>{{Cite web |title=Monoraphidium Komárková-Legnerová, 1969 :: AlgaeBase |url=https://www.algaebase.org/search/genus/detail/?genus_id=43438&-session=abv4:AC1F064013d441C46DSqC6DEBEE0 |access-date=2023-03-03 |website=www.algaebase.org}}</ref>
It is similar to and often confused with the related genus ''Ankistrodesmus'', from which it differs by being typically unicellular.<ref name=Matthews>{{cite journal | date = 2016 | last1=Matthews | first1=Robin A. | title=Freshwater Algae in Northwest Washington, Volume II, Chlorophyta and Rhodophyta | url= https://cedar.wwu.edu/cedarbooks/1/ | journal = A Collection of Open Access Books and Monographs | publisher = Western Washington University | doi=10.25710/fctx-n773 }}</ref>
Some species and strains of ''Monoraphidium'', such as ''Monoraphidium neglectum'', are promising candidates for commercial biofuel production.<ref name=Yee>{{cite journal | doi=10.1007/s11274-016-2023-6 | title=Microalgae from the Selenastraceae as emerging candidates for biodiesel production: A mini review | year=2016 | last1=Yee | first1=Willy | journal=World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology | volume=32 | issue=4 | page=64 | pmid=26931604 | s2cid=255143072 }}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist|1}}
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Category:Sphaeropleales genera Category:Sphaeropleales Category:Freshwater algae
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