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Molecular Systematics of the Ulvellaceae (Ulvales, Ulvophyceae) Inferred from Nuclear and Chloroplast DNA Sequences
Author(s) -
Wysor B.,
O'Kelly C. J.,
Bellows W. K.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of phycology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.85
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1529-8817
pISSN - 0022-3646
DOI - 10.1111/j.0022-3646.2003.03906002_178.x
Subject(s) - biology , ulvophyceae , ribosomal dna , molecular phylogenetics , chloroplast dna , plastid , botany , nuclear dna , phylogenetics , evolutionary biology , chlorophyta , algae , genetics , mitochondrial dna , chloroplast , gene
The diversity and phylogeny of endophytic, microfilamentous green algae in the family Ulvellaceae (Chlorophyta: Ulvophyceae) are poorly understood. Members of this family have suffered a long history of confusing taxonomy, resulting from phenotypic plasticity and few stable morphological characters. Using DNA sequence data from two molecular markers, the plastid encoded elongation factor TU (tufA) and the nuclear encoded small subunit ribosomal DNA (18S rDNA), we tested taxonomic concepts in Ulvellaceae. Concordance between plastid and nuclear phylogenies revealed the following: 1) Ochlochaete is distinct from Acrochaete and may represent a separate family, 2) Ochlochaete is not monotypic, consisting of at least two genetically distinct species, 3) the tribe Ulvelleae, separated from the Acrochaeteae on the basis of radial (versus linear) germination and bifurcate apical cells, is not supported as one of the members, Pringsheimiella scutata groups with a suite of Acrochaete species and 4) the Ochlochaete clade is the proximal outgroup for the Ulvaceae. These findings will be presented in the light of morphological characters that are currently used to define species and genera in the Ulvellaceae.