Vegetos
(An International Journal of Plant Research & Biotechnology)
(eISSN: 2229-4473)
Interfilum shuklaii (Klebsormidiaceae): a morphologically distinct new edaphic alga from the Western Ghats, India
*Article not assigned to an issue yet
Jiji Merin Grace, Thomas Valukattil Ponnachan, Thomas Binoy Thundiyathu
Research Articles | Published: 23 May, 2026
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Keywords: Charophyta, Green algae, n Klebsormidiumn , Soil algae, Taxonomy
Abstract
The southern Western Ghats are renowned for their rich biodiversity. The present study aims to describe a new species of green alga, Interfilum shuklaii sp. nov., isolated from cultures established from soil samples collected from a tropical forest in Kerala, India. Morphological characterization was carried out using light microscopy, and the species was identified based on detailed comparative analysis with allied taxa. The species is characterized by a combination of morphological features, including a uniseriate filamentous pattern, a non-striated mucilage envelope, and the presence of mother cell wall remnants as a dome shaped cap, which distinguish it from related taxa. A detailed taxonomic description, including morphological features, comparison with related species, photomicrographs, and an identification key to all known species of the genus, is provided. The discovery of this species highlights the taxonomic and biogeographical significance of soil algal diversity in the Western Ghats and emphasizes the need for further exploration of terrestrial microalgae in understudied regions.
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Author Information
Phycotechnology Laboratory, Postgraduate and Research Department of Botany, Catholicate College, Pathanamthitta, India