Question

Describe the structure of filament of cyanobacteria.

Answer 1

Filament of Cyanobacteria:

1. Cyanobacteria comprise several filaments which are held by the mucilage in a colony.
2. A filament consists of an unbranched chain of cells known as a trichome, which looks like a string of beads.
3. The trichome is surrounded by a mucilage sheath.
4. The filamentous cells are oval or spherical in shape.
5. Large colorless cells called heterocysts are present in the trichome which may be terminal or intercalary.
6. The trichome cells have cytoplasmic connections known as plasmodesmata.