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New species of freshwater Ulva , Ulva limnetica (Ulvales, Ulvophyceae) from the Ryukyu Islands, Japan
Author(s) -
Ichihara Kensuke,
Arai Shogo,
Uchimura Masayuki,
Fay Etienne J.,
Ebata Hiroki,
Hiraoka Masanori,
Shimada Satoshi
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
phycological research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.438
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 1440-1835
pISSN - 1322-0829
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1835.2009.00525.x
Subject(s) - biology , ulvophyceae , botany , pyrenoid , stipe (mycology) , chlorophyta , thallus , chloroplast , algae , gene , biochemistry
SUMMARY Ulva limnetica Ichihara et Shimada, sp. nov. (Ulvales, Ulvophyceae) is described from the Ryukyu Islands, Japan, and is characterized by thalli that are: (i) branched, tubular, fragile and wrinkled; (ii) up to 80 cm in height and up to 2 cm in diameter; (iii) light to yellowish green in color; and (iv) having an asexual reproduction by means of quadriflagellate swarmers. Rhizoidal cells bear tubular extensions on the outside of the cell layer in the stipe. Ulva limnetica is distinguished from species with similar thalli by chloroplast disposition, branching pattern, number of pyrenoids per cell and gross morphology. It is also distinguished by sequences of the nuclear‐encoded 18S ribosomal RNA gene, internal transcribed spacer 2 region and the plastid‐encoded large subunit of ribulose‐1,5‐bisphosphate carboxylase/oxgenase gene ( rbc L). Ulva limnetica was clustered with other Ulva species in an early diverging lineage within the genus.