Five Cyanophora (Cyanophorales, Glaucophyta) species delineated based on morphological and molecular data. Issue 6 (28th October 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Takahashi, Toshiyuki; Sato, Mayuko; Toyooka, Kiminori; Matsuzaki, Ryo; Kawafune, Kaoru; Kawamura, Mai; Okuda, Kazuo; Nozaki, Hisayoshi; Wetherbee, R.
• Is Part Of: Journal of phycology. Volume 50:Issue 6(2014:Dec.)
• Page Start: 1058
• Page End: 1069
• Publication Date: 2014-10-28
• Subjects: Algae -- Periodicals; 579.8
• DOI: 10.1111/jpy.12236
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-3646

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="jpy12236-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p> <italic>Cyanophora</italic> is an important glaucophyte genus of unicellular biflagellates that may have retained ancestral features of photosynthetic eukaryotes. The nuclear genome of <italic>Cyanophora</italic> was recently sequenced, but taxonomic studies of more than two strains are lacking for this genus. Furthermore, no study has used molecular methods to taxonomically delineate <italic>Cyanophora</italic> species. Here, we delimited the species of <italic>Cyanophora</italic> using light and electron microscopy, combined with molecular data from several globally distributed strains, including one newly established. Using a light microscope, we identified two distinct morphological groups: one with ovoid to ellipsoidal vegetative cells and another with dorsoventrally flattened or broad, bean‐shaped vegetative cells containing duplicated plastids. Our light and scanning electron microscopy clearly distinguished three species with ovoid to ellipsoidal cells (<italic>C. paradoxa </italic>Korshikov, <italic>C. cuspidata </italic>Tos.Takah. & Nozaki sp. nov., and <italic>C. kugrensii </italic>Tos.Takah. & Nozaki sp. nov.) and two species with broad, bean‐shaped cells (<italic>C. biloba </italic>Kugrens, B.L.Clay, C.J.Mey. & R.E.Lee and <italic>C. sudae </italic>Tos.Takah. & Nozaki sp. nov.) based on differences in cell shape and surface ornamentations of the vegetative cells under the field‐emission scanning electron microscope. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of P700 chl <italic>a</italic> apoprotein A2 (<italic>psaB</italic>) genes and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of nuclear ribosomal DNA (<italic>r</italic>DNA), as well as a comparison of secondary structures of nuclear <italic>r</italic>DNA ITS‐2 and genetic distances of <italic>psaB</italic> genes, supported the delineation of five morphological species of <italic>Cyanophora</italic>.</p> </abstract>