• ALGAE
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.131-139
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• 2007

The expression of genes responding to cold stress in a freshwater alga, Spirogyra varians, was studied by using differential expression gene (DEG) method. A gene strongly up-regulated in 4°C was isolated and designated as SVCR2 (Spirogyra varians cold regulated) gene. The cDNA encoding SVCR2 was cloned using λZAP cDNA library of Spirogyra varians. The deduced amino acid had a sequence similarity with trans-membrane protein in Arabidopsis thaliana (Q9M2D2, 52.7%). Northern blot analysis demonstrated that transcript level of SVCR2 increased about 10 fold under low temperature (4°C), compared with that cultured at warm (20°C) conditions. The expression of SVCR2 was also affected by light conditions. When the plants were exposed to high light (HL) (1200 μmol photon m–2 s–1), the expression of SVCR2 began within 2 hrs. This gene expression lasted for 4 hrs and decreased afterwards. Under the blue light (470 nm) condition, the expression of this gene was induced in same way as HL treatment, even under less than 100 μmol photon m–2 s–1. But red light (650 nm) and UV-A irradiation did not affect the expression of SVCR2.

• ALGAE
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.39-45
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• 2009

The conjugation processes of a filamentous freshwater green alga Spirogyra varians were examined using FITC-lectins. Conjugation comprised five steps: 1) aligning with adjacent filaments, 2) formation of conjugation protru-sion (papilla), 3) fusion of the protrusions, 4) formation of conjugation tube,and 5) formation of zygotes. Three lectins, ConA, RCA and UEA, showed considerable labeling during the progression of conjuation. FITC-ConA labeled the surfaces of filaments throughout the whole conjugation processes. FITC-RCA labeling was observed at the conjugation protrusions only after the papilla formation. Strong labeling continued until formationg of zygotes at the contacting area where the conjugation tube developed, but no labeling was detected on the surface of vegetative filaments. The labeling decreased gradually over time and disappeared when zygotes were formed. FITC-UEA showed similar labeling pattern with FITC-RCA except that weak labeling remained after zygote formation. Inhibition experiments using RCA, UEA which are complementary to sugars L-fucose and D-galactose, showed considerable decrease of conjugation (<32% vs. 70% in control). These results suggested that the lectin-carbohydrate recognition system might be involved in the conjugation of spirogyra varians.

• ALGAE
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.235-244
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• 2017

Freshwater algae living in shallow waters have evolved various photomovement to stay in the optimum light condition for survival. Previous action-spectra investigations showed that Spirogyra filaments have phototropic movement in blue light. To decipher the genetic control of phototropic movement, two phototropin homologues were isolated from Spirogyra varians, and named SvphotA and SvphotB. Both phototropins have similar molecular structure consisted of two light-oxygen-voltage domains (LOV1, LOV2) and a serine / threonine kinase domain. SvphotA and SvphotB had 48.7% sequence identity. Phylogenetic analysis showed SvphotA and SvphotB belong to different clades suggesting early divergence, possibly before the divergence of land plants from the Zygnematales. Quantitative PCR and northern blot analysis showed that SvphotA and SvphotB responded differently to red and blue light. SvphotA was consistently expressed in the dark and in blue light, while SvphotB was expressed only when the plants were exposed to light. When the filaments were exposed to red light, SvphotA was significantly downregulated whereas SvphotB was highly upregulated. These results suggest that the two phototropins may have different roles in the photoresponse in S. varians.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.220-224
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• 2014

Flocculation is known one of the effective methods for harvesting microalgae. This study was aimed to optimize the flocculation condition for decreasing the amounts of flocculant and obtaining the highest yield of algal biomass. To achieve this goal, it was optimized the flocculant concentration, reaction pH and the concentration of cell density for harvest using response surface methodology (RSM). The flocculation of microalgae, Spirogyra varians, was carried out using inorganic flocculant polyaluminium chloride. By the RSM result, the optimal flocculation condition was calculated 5 ppm of polyaluminum chloride, pH 7.5 and 0.33 of optical cell density at $OD_{640}$. The obtained recovery yield of S. varians was 97.6% at the optimal condition.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.192-199
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• 2009

Freshwater green algae are one of the important sources of bioenergy in the future. Spirogyra is a conjugating filamentous zygnematacean green algal genus that is widely distributed worldwide with more than 400 species. Despite its widespread occurrence throughout the world, cytological studies of the genus have been limited. We investigated karyological features and chromosome numbers for seven Korean Spirogyra species. Most of the species examined in the present study showed significant karyological features, inner organization of nucleolus, heavily stainable nucleolar substance and the diffuse-centric nature of chromosomes, typical of the Conjugales. Chromosome number ranged from n=12 in S. varians to n=38 in S. africana. Aberrant cytokinesis resulted in binucleate and tetranucleate cells, which sometimes provide cytological explanation for different morphology and ploidal changes in clonal culture of Spirogyra or even different cells within the same filament. The present chromosome data also substantiates the earlier held assumption that aneuploidy must have been the chief driving force for speciation and evolution of the genus Spirogyra.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.37-44
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• 2004

Flora and standing crops of the periphyton communities were examined at five sites in the mountainous streams of the Dam of Peace, Korea, from June to November 2003. The attached algal communities comprised totally 76 taxa belong to the 5 classes. In species composition, diatoms and green algae overwhelmingly dominated the periphyton communities although their standing crops were low. During the survey period, major dominant species were Navicula gregaria and Nav. pupla var. capitata, as 11.7% and 8.9% of total standing crop, respectively. Other subdominant species were Scenedesmus ecornis and Spirogyra weberii in green algae, Cymbella affinis, Cymbella minuta. Fragilaria capucina, Melosira varians, Naw. cryptocephala, Nav. exigua var. capitata, Nav. gregaria, Nit. sublineuris in diatom. In the seasonal appearances, S. ecornis and Oscillatoria nigra were occurred in summer, C. affinis and F. capucina in autumn, and N. sublinearis, and species Spirogyra weberii in winter, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.21-33
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• 2012

Survey on the phytoplankton community structure and distribution in the upstream watershed of the East River was carried out during the period from May, 2008 to April, 2009. A total composition of phytoplankton included 159 taxa, consisting of 7 orders, 56 genera, 139 species, and 40 unidenfied species. Among those, the diatoms and green algae were more frequently found during the investigation than the other taxa. Cocconeis placentula, Cymbella minuta, Diatoma vulgare, Melosira varians, Navicula cryptocephala, Scenedesmus acuminatus v. acuminatus, were among the most common. The standing crops of the phytoplankton ranged from 86 cells $mL^{-1}$ to 1,467 cells $mL^{-1}$. The dominant species were Achnanthes minutissima, Asterionella formosa, Aulacoseira ambigua, Cocconeis placentula, Coelastrum microporum, Cyclotella sp., Cymbella affinis, C. minuta, C. tumida, Diatoma vulgare, Fragilaria capucina, F. construens, F. crotonensis, Gomphonema affine, G. clevei, Melosira varians, Merismopedia elegans, Navicula cryptocephala, N. pupula, Nitzschia tryblionella, Oscillatoria anna, O. limosa, O. tenuis v. tenuis, Pediastrum duplex v. reticulatum, Phormidium tenue, Scenedesmus acuminatus v. acuminatus, S. acutus v. acutus, S. ecornis v. ecornis, S. quadricauda v. quadricauda, Spirogyra sp., Stigeoclonium sp., Synedra acus, S. ulna, and Ulothrix sp. The most dominant species was Cymbella minuta. The diversity index, evenness index, and dominance index ranged from 1.58 to 3.10, 051 to 0.95, and 0.22 to 0.74, respectively. The phytoplankton community structure of upstream stations of the survey area was influenced by the effluent of the Doam Lake.