- Pediastrum
reproduces asexually by producing autocolonies. The protoplast
of each parent cell gives rise to a biflagellate zoospore for
each cell in the parent colony. The zoospores are freed from
the parent cell within a vesicle and then arrange themselves
into the cellular arrangement for that particular species. The
cells then enlarge until they
- reach full size. Each cell can generate a
daughter autocolony with exactly the same number and arrangement
of cells as the parent colony.
-
- Pediastrum
reproduces sexually via the fusion of small, biflagellate gametes
that are released from the parent cell. The zygotes germinate
into zoospores, which turn into thick-walled polyeders that generate
the new coenobia. These polyeders can also result from asexual
reproduction.
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