Why is oscillatoria important

Some unique features that sets it apart from other cyanobacteria is that it is motile and can conduct anoxygenic photosynthesis. Oscillatoria is motile and moves by the means of microfibrils. They move in a gliding motion and tend to use this mobility to move towards light. Its gliding motion has a unique feature though, it moves in a oscillatory motion. Meaning that it can still obtain energy in the absence of oxygen, it can obtain it from the reduction of sulfate instead.

This energy comes in the form of ATP and can be stored. Culturing this genus is rather easy but the only thing to keep in mind is that they are motile and can die if moved to a region that was not moist.

Oscillatoria's natural habitat is water. Its body is composed of single row of cells. These cells form trichomes. Its trichomes are unbranched filaments. They are covered by very thin mucilaginous sheath. All cells of a trichome are similar in shape except apical cells. The apical cells are convex at the tip. All other cells arc broader and cylindrical. In some species, the apical cells may end in subacute point.

In some cases, it may have cap or calyptra at the tip. Some species have narrow trichome. They have cylidrical cells with their length equal or greater than the breath. Each cell has outer cell wall. This wall consists of three layers. The inner layer is thin cellular layer, medium is pectic layer and outer is mucilage layer. Aseuxal and sexual reproduction is absent in Oscillatoria. Oscillatoria reproduces by fragmentation. Oscillatoria forms long filaments of cells which can break into fragments called hormogonia.

The hommgonia can grow into a new, longer filament. Breaks in the filament usually occur where dead cells necridia are present. In some cases, hormogones form separating discs at breaking points.

Accidental fragmentation also occurs in Oscillatoria.