180,989 species and infraspecific names are in the database, 23,920 images, 74,691 bibliographic items, 602,462 distributional records.

Tetrachlorella Korshikov, 1939

Classification:
Empire Eukaryota
Kingdom Plantae
Subkingdom Viridiplantae
Infrakingdom Chlorophyta infrakingdom
Phylum Chlorophyta
Subphylum Chlorophytina
Class Trebouxiophyceae
Order Chlorellales
Family Oocystaceae

Holotype species: Tetrachlorella alternans (G.M.Smith) Korshikov

Original publication and holotype designation: Korshikov, A.A. (1939). Contribution to the algal flora of the Gorky District Phytoplankton of the Oka River in August 1932. Zapiski Gorkovskogo Universiteta 9: 101-128.

Taxonomic status: currently recognized as a distinct genus.

Most recent taxonomic treatment adopted: Tsarenko, P.M. (2011). Trebouxiophyceae. In: Algae of Ukraine: diversity, nomenclature, taxonomy, ecology and geography. Volume 3: Chlorophyta. (Tsarenko, P.M., Wasser, S.P. & Nevo, E. Eds), pp. 61-108. Ruggell: A.R.A. Gantner Verlag K.-G..

Taxonomic notes
According to Hegewald et al. (2010: 325), Tetrachlorella has been transferred to the Trebouxiophyceae. - (13 Sep 2010) - G.M. Guiry

Description: Thalli colonial, forming 2- or mostly 4-celled coenobia, to 32 µm diameter; up to 16-celled compound coenobia formed during reproduction. Cells arranged mostly in one plane in wide, structureless, mucilage envelope that is occasionally absent. Cells oval, 4.5-20 x 2-10 µm, arranged with inner pair of cells parallel but only partly overlapping along lateral walls, and outer pair also parallel and attached to portions of inner pair cell walls. Cell walls smooth (2 species) or with wall granulations (2 species, the latter either forming a ring at one end of each cell or with several linear aggregations of granulations at one or both ends of cells. Cells uninucleate; chloroplast single and parietal with single pyrenoid. Asexual reproduction by autospores; commonly 4 but occasionally 2 per sporangium and organized into coenobia; coenobia released by rupture of parental cell walls that rapidly dissolve. Sexual reproduction and flagellated stages absent. Tetrachlorella planktonic in variety of freshwater systems including lakes, rivers and reservoirs; occasionally abundant in eutrophic water; reported from Europe and North America. Genus distinguished based on characteristic coenobial structure and form of compound colonies. Morphologically, considered most similar to Crucigeniella. Species differences include cell size and patterns of wall ornamentation (when present).

Information contributed by: D. Garbary. The most recent alteration to this page was made on 21 Dec 2011 by M.D. Guiry.

Numbers of names and species: There are 7 species names in the database at present.

Names: ('C' indicates a name that is accepted taxonomically; 'S' a homotypic or heterotypic synonym; 'U' indicates a name of uncertain taxonomic status, but which has been subjected to some verification nomenclaturally; 'P' indicates a preliminary AlgaeBase entry that has not been subjected to any kind of verification. For more information on a species click on it to activate a link to the Species database):

Click here to also show infraspecific names in the list below.

References
Hepperle, D., Hegewald, E. & Krienitz, L. (2000). Phylogenetic position of the Oocystaceae (Chlorophyta). Journal of Phycology 36: 590-595.

Verification of data
Users are responsible for verifying the accuracy of information before use, as noted on the website Content page.

Contributors
Some of the descriptions included in AlgaeBase were originally from the unpublished Encyclopedia of Algal Genera, organised in the 1990s by Dr Bruce Parker on behalf of the Phycological Society of America (PSA) and intended to be published in CD format. These AlgaeBase descriptions are now being continually updated, and each current contributor is identified above. The PSA and AlgaeBase warmly acknowledge the generosity of all past and present contributors and particularly the work of Dr Parker.

Descriptions of chrysophyte genera were subsequently published in J. Kristiansen & H.R. Preisig (eds.). 2001. Encyclopedia of Chrysophyte Genera. Bibliotheca Phycologica 110: 1-260.

Created: 23 April 2002 by M.D. Guiry

Verified by: 21 December 2011 by M.D. Guiry

Linking to this page: http://admin.algaebase.org/search/genus/detail/?genus_id=44280

Citing AlgaeBase
Please cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 2025. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. http://www.algaebase.org; searched on 13 July 2025.

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