• ALGAE
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.105-115
• /
• 2016

The genus Pterosiphonia includes twenty-one currently described species of red algae that occur in temperate to tropical regions of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Pterosiphonia spinifera was originally described as Polysiphonia spinifera from Peru and later transferred to Pterosiphonia. Pterosiphonia spinifera has been reported from Peru as Pterosiphonia pennata, which was originally described from the Mediterranean Sea. Recently, Pterosiphonia arenosa was described based on specimens of P. pennata from Korea. We collected P. spinifera along the coast of Peru and P. arenosa near the type locality in Korea. We compared them with the isotype specimens of P. arenosa using both morphological and molecular data. Our morphological observations and our phylogenetic analysis of rbcL sequences demonstrate that P. spinifera and P. arenosa are conspecific and indicate that P. arenosa is a later synonym of P. spinifera. Our study confirms the wide occurrence of P. spinifera in the western and eastern Pacific Ocean.

• ALGAE
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.149-160
• /
• 2013

Six species of the genus Symphyocladia are currently recognized worldwide, all of which are reported to grow on the Korean coast. We described a new species Symphyocladia glabra sp. nov. based on morphological and molecular evidence. The new species is characterized by mostly an erect and broad thallus, the parallel arrangement of numerous apical cells, completely fused congenital cells, a corticated basal portion of faint midrib with six to eight pericentral cells, rhizoids cutting off from pericentral cells, and absent vegetative trichoblasts. The new species has morphological similarity to S. marchantioides and S. jejuinsula. However, S. glabra sp. nov. is distinguished from S. marchantioides by the corticated lower portion of the thallus and the absence of vegetative trichoblasts, and S. jejuinsula by number of pericentral cells and the fact that the thallus does not taper upward. The phylogeny of rbcL sequences indicated that S. glabra sp. nov. is definitely a separate entity within the genus Symphyocladia.

• ALGAE
• /
• v.33 no.3
• /
• pp.215-229
• /
• 2018

In this study, the phylogenetic relationships among the genera Alsidium C. Agardh and Bryothamnion $K{\ddot{u}}tzing$ were investigated. Phylogenetic analyses using the plastid-encoded markers rbcL, psbA, and the mitochondrial barcode region (COI-5P) resolved a well-supported clade that included the species Alsidium corallinum, Bryothamnion seaforthii, and B. triquetrum. Our results indicated that taxonomic recognition of the genus Bryothamnion is not supported and two species of Bryothamnion are reallocated to Alsidium. A reexamination of the morphological definition of Alsidium is provided with an updated diagnosis of the genus and a morphology-based comparison of species that are currently circumscribed under this generic name. Furthermore, we reviewed morphological differences and similarities between Alsidium and the genus Digenea, both belonging to the tribe Alsidieae, discussing the most relevant morphological characters.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.40 no.3
• /
• pp.301-306
• /
• 2022

The vegetative and reproductive morphology of some parasitic Janczewskia Solms-Laubach species including the type species was examined based on specimens collected from various localities around the world. In J. gardneri Setchell et Guernsey on Osmundea spectabilis (Postels et Ruprecht) Nam from California, secondary pit connections are not found between epidermal cells and vegetative axial cells have two pericentral cells. As its host, J. gardneri also has a typical filament type male structure in an apical urn-shaped pit of branches rather than the trichoblast type in other species including the type J. verruciformis Solms-Laubach and tetrasporangial origin of epidermal cells rather than pericentral cells. These significant differences between the species suggest that J. gardneri should be separated from the genus Janczewskia. Based on this morphological data, the section Heterojanczewskia Setchell including J. gardneri, together with an emendation of the generic delineation of Janczewskia, is elevated to the genus level. Relevant nomenclatural changes for some Janczewskia species are also included here.

• ALGAE
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.73-82
• /
• 2013

The genus Neosiphonia Kim and Lee 1999 contains approximately 30 species worldwide. Unidentified samples from Peru are here described as a new species, Neosiphonia ramirezii sp. nov., on the basis of morphological and molecular data. N. ramirezii sp. nov. is characterized by the presence of a limited prostrate system, well-developed erect filaments, rhizoids cut off from pericentral cells by cross walls, four pericentral cells that are completely ecorticate, scarce trichoblasts, inconspicuous scar cells, procarps with three-celled carpogonial branches, spermatangial branches developed from basal cells of forked trichoblasts, and spirally arranged tetrasporangia. Our new species is distinct from N. flaccidissima (Hollenberg) Kim et Lee, N. sphaerocarpa (Borgesen) Kim et Lee, and N. savatieri (Hariot) Kim et Lee from the Pacific temperate coast of South America and from 14 Neosiphonia species reported worldwide by having limited prostrate filaments attached by numerous rhizoids, dichotomous ("Y" shaped) branches in the main axes, and scarce trichoblasts. Phylogenetic rbcL analyses confirm the placement of the new taxon as a distinct species in the genus Neosiphonia.

• ALGAE
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.259-268
• /
• 2012

The genus Pterosiphonia is composed of 22 species worldwide and four of these species have been reported in the North-East Asia. In Korea, P. pennata originally described from the Mediterranean Sea has been previously recorded from the southern coast as a widespread species. In order to confirm the same species from Korea and Mediterranean, we observed the morphology of Korean Pterosiphonia specimen and analyzed rbcL sequences for inferring phylogenetic relationships among similar congeners. Korean entity was recognized as a new species, Pterosiphonia arenosa sp. nov. The new species is characterized by ecorticate axes with 7-10 pericentral cells, branches formed every two segments, and coalesced with main axis over 1-1.25 axial segments, and tetrasporangia formed in straight series on determinate branches of the upper parts of erect axes. A phylogenetic analysis of rbcL sequences demonstrated that P. arenosa was distinct from P. pennata found in Spain as well as other species. In conclusion, morphological and molecular sequence data indicated that P. arenosa sp. nov. has been previously misidentified as P. pennata in Korea.

• ALGAE
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.69-84
• /
• 2018

We examined the species diversity of Herposiphonia on Korean coasts, based on a combination of morphology and molecular analyses of the mitochondrial COI-5P DNA barcode marker and plastid rbcL gene. We report the presence of eight species including three novel species: H. donghaensis sp. nov., H. jejuinsula sp. nov., H. sparsa sp. nov., H. caespitosa, H. fissidentoides, H. insidiosa, H. parca, and H. subdisticha. Specimens were separated into eight clades in both the COI-5P and rbcL gene analyses, with 1.3-19.6 and 6.6-15% interspecific sequence divergence, respectively. These eight species are also distinguishable by several morphological characteristics such as: branching pattern (d/i pattern in H. donghaensis sp. nov. and H. sparsa sp. nov.; d/d/d/i pattern in others), shape of determinate branch (ligulate in H. fissidentoides; terete in others), number of vegetative trichoblasts (1-2 in H. insidiosa and H. sparsa sp. nov.; 3-4 in H. caespitosa; absent in others), and number of segments and pericentral cells in determinate branches. About three novel species revealed by our analyses, H. donghaensis sp. nov. is newly discovered, and H. jejuinsula sp. nov. and H. sparsa sp. nov. were previously reported in Korea as H. nuda and H. secunda, respectively. Our results show that DNA barcoding and rbcL analyses are useful for delimiting species boundaries and discovering cryptic species diversity in the genus Herposiphonia.

• Journal of Plant Biology
• /
• v.39 no.1
• /
• pp.23-29
• /
• 1996

Morphology and reproduction of Polysiphonia atlantica Kapraun et J. Norris were studied on the basis of field and laboratory cultured materials collected from the coast of Korea. The plants consisted of prostrate and erect axes with an extremely soft flaccid texture. Axes were ecorticated and had four pericentral cells. The plants except for female gametophytes had few trichoblasts. Branches in the upper portion of the thallus grew to the same level, resulting in a flat-top form. Tetrasporangia were arranged in straight series. Spermatangial branches replaced whole trichoblasts and had a 1-2 celled serile tip. The procarp had a four celled carpogonial branch. After fertilization, the carpogonium contancted the surface of the supporting cell. The formation of the auxiliary cell from the supporting cell was somewhat delayed P. atlantica from Korea was similar to P. subtilissima Montagne in some features. However, the taxonomic differences between the two species were identified in the development of branches and the number of sterile cells at the tip of spermatangial branches.

• ALGAE
• /
• v.33 no.3
• /
• pp.231-241
• /
• 2018

Genetic continuity of Digenea simplex outside the Atlantic waters remains less studied, despite its long exposure to oriental folk medicine and wide distribution in tropical waters. Mitochondrial COI-5P and plastid rbcL sequences and morphology were investigated for plants from Mexico and additional specimens from Japan. Two new species, Digenea mexicana and Digenea rafaelii, are described for plants that would previously have been recognized as D. simplex in Mexico. D. mexicana grows to 10.5 cm tall and has cylindrical axes, irregular or di-, trichotomous branches, simple to branched determinate branchlets with eight pericentral cells, and tetrasporangia on inflated upper parts of determinate branchlets. It occurs intertidally in Quintana Roo, Yucatan Peninsula. D. rafaelii grows to 5 cm tall and has cylindrical axes, irregular or di-, trichotomous branches, and simple determinate branchlets with ten pericentral cells. It occurs intertidally in the Gulf of California. Both COI-5P and rbcL sequences revealed the genetic discontinuity between D. mexicana and D. rafaelii.

• ALGAE
• /
• v.34 no.3
• /
• pp.187-198
• /
• 2019

The exploration of seaweed diversity in poorly studied habitats has often led to the discovery of new species. Sand-covered rocks are an example, as they received less attention than sand-free rocky intertidal habitats during seaweed diversity surveys in Brazil. In sand-covered rocks from Espirito Santo and Rio de Janeiro we found an alga whose morphology was unique among rhodomelacean species previously reported in Brazil. With the aim to clarify the taxonomic identity of this species we studied its morphology, as well as its phylogenetic relationships. Molecular analyses resolved this species in the genus Alsidium (tribe Alsidieae) and differed from sequenced congeners with divergences ${\geq}2.5$ and 4.2% in the rbcL and cox1 genes, respectively. Morphological characters were in agreement with the genus Alsidium, and differed from other species currently recognized in the genus. The species consisted of a basal crust and scarcely branched erect axes with seven pericentral cells covered by a continuous layer of cortical cells. Reproductive structures were formed on clusters of short determinate branches. Therefore, the new species A. oliveiranum is proposed based on morphological and molecular evidence. Our findings contribute to better understand the diversity of the tribe Alsidieae, which is particularly diverse in the Americas.