Oedocladium sahyadricum

About Oedocladium sahyadricum:

• It is a new algal species and it is named as Oedocladium sahyadricum.
  • The name ‘sahyadricum’ refers to the Western Ghats, also known as Sahyadri, which is rich in plant diversity and provides ideal conditions for the growth of terrestrial microalgae.
• Features
  • It is dioecious and terrestrial, having a superior operculum, and possessing ellipsoid oogonium and oospore.
  • The alga was found as a thin mat of elongatedstrands on damp soil.
  • The species, which looks like moss protonema, is velvety green but turns yellowish-green as it matures. Rainy weather is likely needed for its abundant growth.
• This is the first time a species in the Oedocladium category has been recorded in Kerala.
• Species of Oedocladium have potential practical applications
  • In medicine, agriculture, and in the production of a natural pigment, astaxanthin which is well-documented for its unique biological activities and health benefits.
• Algae play a significant role in ecosystems and have enormous economic importance in the world market, from high-value products to wastewater treatment.

Q1: What are Microalgae?

These are microscopic algae, typically found in freshwater and marine systems. They are unicellular species that exist individually or in chains or groups. They are unicellular algal species, e.g. green algae, diatoms, and dinoflagellates.

Source: New algal species discovered in Western Ghats