The main difference between Chlorophyta and Charophyta is that Chlorophyta exhibits many forms, including unicellular, multicellular, and colonial forms, whereas Charophyta resembles land plants.
Chlorophyta and Charophyta are two green algae in the supergroup Archaeplastida from which the land plants evolved.
Key Areas Covered
1. What is Chlorophyta
– Definition, Taxonomy, Characteristics
2. What is Charophyta
– Definition, Taxonomy, Characteristics
3. Similarities Between Chlorophyta and Charophyta
– Outline of Common Features
4. Difference Between Chlorophyta and Charophyta
Key Terms
Charophyta, Chlorophyta
What is Chlorophyta
Chlorophyta are green algae that belong to the supergroup Archaeplastida. It contains chlorophyll a and b in the same proportion as in higher plants. It also contains beta carotene (yellow pigment) and xanthophylls (yellow and brown pigments). Its morphological forms include unicellular, multicellular, colonial, and coenocytic forms. Cells of Chlorophyta contain chloroplasts and nuclei. They can be uninucleated or multinucleated. Most of the Chlorophyta are aquatic and occur in marine and freshwater habitats. Some are terrestrial, growing on the soil, rocks, and trees. Others are symbiotic, with fungi forming lichens. Additionally, some Chlorophyta, such as Chlorella, are symbiotic with animals.
Figure 1: Chlorophyta
Furthermore, Chlorophyta reserves food in the form of starch, fat, and oils, similar to higher plants. Asexual reproduction of Chlorophyta occurs in binary fission, fragmentation, budding, or forming motile spores called zoospores. In comparison, sexual reproduction occurs in isogamy, anisogamy, or oogamy. Many Chlorophyta shows alterations between haploid and diploid phases. The haploid phase forms gametangia, while the diploid phase forms zoospores. Others undergo meiosis of the zygote.
What is Charophyta
Charophyta is the other group of green algae in the supergroup Archaeplastida. Also, it is the most relative form of green algae to land plants. It predominantly lives in freshwater habitats. It is green algae that contain chlorophyll a and b. The plant body of Charophyta is macroscopic. It is differentiated into nodes and internodes. Whorls of branches occur in nodes. They are limited growths that resemble the leaves of angiosperm plants. The plant body of Charophyta develops from a single apical cell. Also, the cells of the Charophyta are long and uninucleated. They contain discoid chloroplasts.
Figure 2: Charophyta
Moreover, internodal cells contain a large central vacuole. The cytoplasm is peripheral, and the nucleus occupies the center of the cell. Additionally, the asexual reproduction of the Charophyta is vegetative. It forms amylum stars, bulbils, and protonema. However, it does not form spores.
Similarities Between Chlorophyta and Charophyta
- Chlorophyta and Charophyta are two groups of green algae.
- They belong to the supergroup Archaeplastida.
Difference Between Chlorophyta and Charophyta
Definition
Chlorophyta is a division of lower plants comprising the green algae in the kingdom Protista. In comparison, Charophyta refers to a division of lower plants that includes the stoneworts, which are frequently treated as a class (Charophyceae) of green algae.
Significance
Chlorophyta exhibits different morphological structures, including unicellular, multicellular, and colonial forms, while Charophyta is the closest relative to the land plants in terms of morphology and reproductive strategies.
Habitat
Chlorophyta occurs in freshwater and damp soil, while Charophyta mainly occurs in wet habitats.
Occurrence
Chlorophyta occurs in freshwater and marine water, while Charophyta occurs only in freshwater.
Size
Chlorophyta can be microscopic or macroscopic, while Charophyta is macroscopic.
Nodes and Internodes
Chlorophyta does not contain nodes and internodes, while Charophyta has nodes and internodes.
Conclusion
In brief, Chlorophyta and Charophyta are two green algae groups in wet habitats. Also, they belong to the supergroup Archaeplastida. Chlorophyta can be unicellular, multicellular, or colonial. Also, they grow in freshwater and damp soil. In comparison, Charophyta shows morphological and reproductive characteristics that resemble land plants. Also, Charophyta grows in wet habitats. Therefore, the main difference between Chlorophyta and Charophyta is their characteristics.
References:
- The seaweed site: Information on marine algae. Seaweed.ie :: Chlorophyta. (n.d.).
- (2017, July 27). General characteristics of charophytes. Botany Studies.
Image Courtesy:
- “Ulvophyceae composite” By Fleliaer – Own work (CC-BY SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
- “Chara sp reproductive structure.” By Keisotyo – Own Work (CC-BY SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
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