ESSENCE - International Journal for Environmental Rehabilitation and Conservation
Mahajan & Dulkar/VIII [2] 2017/47 – 51
Volume VIII [2] 2017 [47 – 51]
The diatom flora of Madhya Pradesh, Central India – A review
Mahajan, S. K. and Dulkar, C. L.
Received: July 17, 2017  Accepted: October 21, 2017  Online: December 31, 2017
Abstract
The present paper is an attempt to prepare a
checklist of the diatom flora of Madhya
Pradesh. It is largely based on the information
available from published literature. The list
includes in all 48 species belonging to 25
genera of diatoms. These species are reported
from different districts of Madhya Pradesh
(Barwani, Bhopal, Gwalior, Jabalpur,
Khandwa, Khargone, Sagar and Ujjain) which
have so far been surveyed by various research
workers up to the year 2016. Dominant genera
with 3 or more species reported are Navicula
(9 species), Nitzschia (5 species) and
Pinnularia (4 species), Gomphonema (4
species ) Cymbella (3 species) and Fragilaria
(3 species) while Synedra, Diatoma and
Achnanthes are common species found in the
area surveyed.
Keywords: Bacillariophyceae | pinnate
diatoms | fresh water algae | nimar eco-region
| central India | periphyton | phytoplankton
For Correspondence:
Botany Department, Govt. College, Mandleshwar, M.P.
E-mail: shrikrishna.mahajan@gmail.com
[ISSN 0975 - 6272]
[www.essence-journal.com]
Introduction
In general diatomaceous floras are familiar as
diatoms and are placed in a separate class
Bacillariophyceae amongst algae. Diatoms are
a widespread group that can be found in the
oceans, in fresh water, in soil and on damp
substrata. As algae, diatoms are distinguished
by the presence of an inorganic cell wall
composed of hydrated silica. It has been
estimated that nearly 20,000 to 2 million
species belonging to more than 200 genera are
found on the earth. They are unicellular,
sometimes colonial algae found in almost
every aquatic habitat as free living
photosynthetic autotrophy, colorless
heterotrophy or photosynthetic symbionts.
They occur as plankton or periphyton with
most brownish-green films on substrates such
as rocks or aquatic plants being composed of
attached diatoms. The cells are surrounded by
a rigid two-parts boxlike cell wall composed
of silica called as frustules.
Earlier the progress of algal systematic has
been reviewed from time to time in the past
not only in relation to taxonomy but also in
relation to algal cytology, algal physiology
and algal fossils. The present review deals
with the work done on diatoms by the various
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 Mahajan & Dulkar/VIII [2] 2017/47 – 51

workers up to the period 2016. In past few Gonzalves. He focused his research work on
decades several monographs on algae have algal taxonomy, periodicity, seasonal
been published in India which has proved to succession, population dynamics and its
be valuable for future researchers working in ecology and published research papers on
the field of phycological studies. diatoms of Bombay and Salsette in three parts,
each containing descriptions of 6, 42 and 24
Taxonomy
diatoms respectively. During his career,
Taxonomic work in phycological studies has Gandhi reported in all 84 species belonging to
been carried out by various workers in past 15 genera of diatoms which enabled him a
few decades. The pioneer work in the field of permanent place in the field of diatom
algal taxonomy and especially on diatom was research. Undoubtedly he is the father of fresh
started by Gandhi under the guidance of E.A. water diatomology in India.
S. No. Name of Diatom S. No. Name of Diatom
1 Achnanthes minutissima Kutz. 1. Navicula cuspidate Kutz.
2 Amphora ovalis Kutz. 2. N.gracilis Ehrenb.
3 F.intermedia Graun. 3. N.mutica Kutz.
4 Asterionella sp. 4. N. pupula Kutz.
5 Bacillariaparadoxa gmelin 5. N. reinhardtii Grun.
6 Caloneis bacillum 6. N.radiosa Kutz.
7 Coscinodiscus sp. 7. N.rhynchocephala Kutz
8 Cymbella affinis Kutz. 8. N. subminuscula
9 C.cistula( Ehrenb.)Kirch. 9. N.viridis ( Nitz.) Kutz
10 C.naviculiformis Auer.ex.Helb. 10. Nitzschia capetellata Hustedt.
11 Diatoma vulgaris 11. N.commutata Grwn.
12 Denticula thermalis Kutz 12. N.palea ( Kutz.) Smith
13 Diploneis elliptica( Kutz.) Cleve. 13. N.siomoides (Nitz.) Smith
14 Fragilaria crotoneis Kitt 14. N.subtilis( Kutz.) Grun.
15 Anomoconeis sphaerophora (Kutz.) Pfitzer 15. Pinnularia appendiculata (Agard.) Schaars.
16 F.rumpens Kutz. 16. P.braunii Cleve
17 Frustulia vulgaris ( Thwait.) Toni. 17. P.simplex Gandhi
18 Gomphonema gracile Ehrenb. 18. P.viridis (Kutz.)Ehrenb.
19 G.lanceolatum Ehrenb. 19. Pleurocapsa sp.
20 G.sphaerophorum Ehrenb. 20. Stauroneis anceps Ehrenb.
21 G.ventricosum Greg. 21. Surirella sp.
22 Hantzschia sp. Grun. 22. Synedra affinis Kutz.
23 Melosira granulate ( Ehrenb.) Ralfa. 23. S.ulna ( Nitz.) Ehrenb
24 Meredion circulare ( Grev.) Agard.. 24. Tabellaria flocculosa (Roth.) Kutz.
Table 1: The list of diatoms reported from Madhya
Pradesh up to 2016

Class : Bacillariophyceae (Diatom) No. of Genera and Species

1. World Genera- More than 200
Species- Approximately 2 million
2. India Genera- 92
Species- 231
3. Madhya Pradesh Genera – 25
Species- - 48
Genera and Species ratio :
1. World 1:1000
2. India 1:2.51
3. Madhya Pradesh 1:1.92
Table 2: Showing the statistical data of genera and species and and also the
ratio of genera to species of the World, India and Madhya Pradesh
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 Mahajan & Dulkar/VIII [2] 2017/47 – 51
Contributions made by various workers on
algae in general and diatoms in particular in
past decades is worth to be mentioned. In
Madhya Pradesh, the taxonomic studies on
algae continue to receive attention from
various workers in the past. Genera and
species belonging to Bacillariophyceae have
so far been discovered and described by
several workers. All the diatoms reported
from this state belong to fresh water only.
Although an attempt has been made to include
most of the diatoms described so far from this
region up to 2016, no claim is made that the
list is complete. Omissions if any, may be
pointed out by the readers. The present author
does not take the responsibility for the
correctness of the identification made by the
various workers listed under references. The
main object of this paper is to provide
information about the scattered literature at
one place along with the list of diatoms
published.
Madhya Pradesh appears to be rich in diatom
flora but still it needs extensive survey for the
exploitation of this beautifully ornamented
group from all possible habitats and various
districts which have so far not been explored.
This important task is continuing by various
phycologists at Bhopal, Gwalior, Jabalpur,
Sagar, Ujjain, Khargone, Khandwa and
Barwani stations.
Till now 48 species belonging to 25 genera of
diatoms have been reported from the state and
all of these belong to fresh water habitats. The
ratio between genera to species is calculated
as 1:1.92 which is slightly low when
compared to 1:2.51 in India. This lends
support to the generalization that smaller the
flora of investigation area, the genera–species
ratio should decline within the same floral
region or investigated area. Now a days
epilithic algae particularly diatoms are
attracting the attention of the phycologists.
The diatom species reported so far from
various parts of Madhya Pradesh is shown
alphabetically in Table 1 and the ratio between
genera to species of World, India and Madhya
Pradesh in shown in Table 2.
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