Question

What is the life cycle of Euglena?

Answer 1

The life cycle of Euglena consists of a free-swimming and a non-motile palmelloid stage.

1. In the free-swimming stage, Euglena reproduces rapidly by binary fission ( a type of asexual reproduction). During binary fission, organelles undergo mitosis and the cell get splits longitudinally into two new daughter cells.
2. When it become too difficult for euglena to survive in unfavourable environmental conditions then they enclose themselves within a thick-walled protective cyst.
3. Some euglenoids can also form reproductive cysts which is known as the palmelloid stage of their life cycle. In the palmelloid stage, Euglena come together by discarding their flagella and enveloped themselves in a gummy substance.
4. Individual euglenoids form reproductive cysts which produces daughter cells by binary fission.
5. When environmental conditions become favourable, these new daughter cells become flagellated and are released from the gelatinous mass.
6. After releasing, they enter into free-swimming stage of their life.