Biology

Characteristics of Phylum Bacillariophyta

Characteristics of the phylum Bacillariophyta:

i) They are unicellular, diploid, colonial or free living. One group of them (Pennales) live in fresh water and other group (Centrales) live in saline water of sea

ii) They are non-flagellated. but the gametes are motile

iii) They are ornamented in different ways

iv) Cell wall is enriched with silica and is well tined with salve (theca).

a1

v) Chromatophores are yellow or golden-yellow, in which feucoxanthin and Diatomin are the main pigments

vi) Reserve food- Lipid and Volutine

vii) Reproduction: Vegetative reproduction by cell division, Asexual reproduction by auxospore and sexual reproduction by conjugation.

Example: Navicula