Textbook of Phycology and Bryology

The primary classification of algae is based on certain morphological and physiological features. The chief among these are pigment constitution of the cell, chemical nature of stored food materials, kind, number, point of insertion and relative length of the flagella on the motile cell, chemical composition of cell wall and presence or absence of a definitely organised nucleus in the cell or any other significant detail of cell structure. The importance of these features in the primary classification of algae has been discussed. The details of vegetative structure and reproduction are useful for algal classification only at the level of families, genera and species. Role of Algae in soil fertility, Culture and cultivation of algae, Algal pigments and their uses, Algae and Environment, Algal blooms and Toxins, Economic importance of algae, Fossil Algae have been included. The Bryology plant body thalloid or foliose, Cells have chloroplast without pyrenoids, Green cells contain simple or compound oil bodies, Sporophyte simple or differentiated into food, seta, capsules, Sporogenous cells develop from endothecium, Sporophyte completely depend upon the sporophyte for nutrition and Dehiscence of sporangium is regular or regular is well documented.