Molecular phylogeny of Volvocales has been achieved much by using makers such as rDNA ITS, 18s DNA, rbcL gene and so on.普遍认为现在的绿色植物起源于团藻目的绿色鞭毛类，有人认为鞭毛细胞表面覆盖有鳞片的塔胞藻类是绿色植物的祖先。