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Definition of prochlorophyte in English:

prochlorophyte

Pronunciation /prəʊˈklɒrəfʌɪt/ /prəʊˈklɔːrəfʌɪt/

noun

Biology

  • A bright green cyanobacterium of the class Prochlorophyta, characterized by the presence of both chlorophyll a and b and the lack of phycobilins (and so resembling the chloroplasts of higher plants).

    Whether the prochlorophytes are taxonomically distinct from other cyanobacteria is under debate.

Origin

1970s. From pro- + chlorophyte, after scientific Latin Prochlorophyta, class name.