Hylodesmus singaporensis gen. et sp. nov., a new autosporic subaerial green alga (Scenedesmaceae, Chlorophyta) from Singapore

• DOI: 10.1099/ijs.0.012963-0
• Publication Date: 2009-11-03T22:56:16Z
• Authors: Marek Eliáš; Yvonne Němcová; Pavel Škaloud; Jiří Neustupa; Veronika Kaufnerová; Lenka Šejnohová
• Keywords: Pyrenoid; Chlorophyceae

The algal flora of subaerial habitats in the tropics remains largely unexplored, despite fact that it potentially encompasses a wealth new evolutionary diversity. Here we present detailed morphological and molecular characterization an autosporic coccoid green alga isolated from decaying wood natural forest Singapore. Depending on culture conditions, this formed globular to irregularly oval solitary cells. Autosporulation was only mode reproduction observed. cell periphery filled with numerous vacuoles, single parietal chloroplast contained conspicuous pyrenoid surrounded by bipartite starch envelope. wall composed thick inner layer thin trilaminar outer layer, surface ornamented few delicate ribs. Phylogenetic analyses 18S rRNA gene sequences placed our strain family Scenedesmaceae (Sphaeropleales, Chlorophyceae) as strongly supported sister branch genus Desmodesmus. Analyses alternative phylogenetic marker widely used for Scenedesmaceae, ITS2 region, confirmed is distinct any scenedesmacean sequenced date, but related Desmodesmus, lacking defining phenotypic features Desmodesmus (cell four sporopolleninic layers peculiar submicroscopic structures). Collectively, results establish identified novel, previously undocumented, lineage algae necessitating its description species genus. We propose be named Hylodesmus singaporensis gen. et sp. nov. A cryopreserved holotype specimen has been deposited into Culture Collection Algae Charles University Prague, Czech Republic (CAUP) CAUP C-H8001.