Phylogeny of North American Tolypella (Charophyceae, Charophyta) based on plastid DNA sequences with a description of Tolypella ramosissima sp. nov. Issue 5 (16th August 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pérez, William; Hall, John D.; McCourt, Richard M.; Karol, Kenneth G.; Vis, M.
• Is Part Of: Journal of phycology. Volume 50:Issue 5(2014:Oct.)
• Page Start: 776
• Page End: 789
• Publication Date: 2014-08-16
• Subjects: Algae -- Periodicals; 579.8
• DOI: 10.1111/jpy.12219
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-3646

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="jpy12219-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>Characeae (Charophyceae, Charophyta) contains two tribes with six genera: tribe Chareae with four genera and tribe Nitelleae, which includes <italic>Tolypella</italic> and <italic>Nitella</italic>. This paper uses molecular and morphological data to elucidate the phylogeny of <italic>Tolypella</italic> species in North America. In the most comprehensive taxonomic treatment of Characeae, 16 <italic>Tolypella</italic> species worldwide were subsumed into two species, <italic>T. intricata</italic> and <italic>T. nidifica</italic>, in two sections, <italic>Rothia</italic> and <italic>Tolypella</italic> respectively. It was further suggested that <italic>Tolypella</italic> might be a derived group within <italic>Nitella</italic>. In this investigation into species diversity and relationships in North American <italic>Tolypella</italic>, sequence data from the plastid genes <italic>atp</italic>B, <italic>psb</italic>C, and <italic>rbc</italic>L were assembled for a broad range of charophycean and land plant taxa. Molecular data were used in conjunction with morphology to test monophyly of the genus and species within it. Phylogenetic analyses of the sequence data showed that Characeae is monophyletic but that Nitelleae is paraphyletic with <italic>Tolypella</italic> sister to a monophyletic <italic>Nitella</italic> + Chareae. The results also supported the monophyly of <italic>Tolypella</italic> and the sections <italic>Rothia</italic> and <italic>Tolypella</italic>. Morphologically defined species were supported as clades with little or no DNA sequence differences. In addition, molecular data revealed several lineages and a new species (<italic>T. ramosissima</italic> sp. nov.), which suggests greater species diversity in <italic>Tolypella</italic> than previously recognized.</p> </abstract>