Polysiphonia ulleungensis sp. nov. (Rhodomelaceae, Rhodophyta): a new diminutive species from Korea belonging to Polysiphonia sensu stricto

doi:2014.29.2.111

Algae > Volume 29(2); 2014 > Article

Algae 2014;29(2): 111-120. doi: https://doi.org/10.4490/algae.2014.29.2.111

Danilo Edson Bustamante¹, Boo Yeon Won¹ and Tae Oh Cho¹^,2^,*

¹Department of Marine Life Science, Chosun University, Gwangju 501-759, Korea
²Marine Bio Research Center, Chosun University, Gwangju 501-759, Korea

*Corresponding Author

Email: tocho@chosun.ac.kr

ABSTRACT

Polysiphonia sensu stricto is characterized by having 4 ecorticate pericentral cells, rhizoids in open connection with the pericentral cells, four-celled carpogonial branches, spermatangial branches replacing the whole trichoblast, and tetrasporangia arranged in straight series. Polysiphonia ulleungensis sp. nov. is newly described from Sadongri, Ulleung Island, Korea, based on morphological and molecular evidence. It is mainly characterized by having ecorticate axes with 4 pericentral cells, apical cells transversely or obliquely divided, unicellular rhizoids in open connection with pericentral cells, very scarce trichoblasts and scar cells, procarps with a four-celled carpogonial branch, and spermatangial branches replacing the whole trichoblast. Polysiphonia ulleungensis is closely similar in morphology to P. atlantica sensu lato. We concluded that materials of P. atlantica sensu Nam and Kang from Korea correspond to P. ulleungensis. By contrast, the new species differs morphologically from the Atlantic specimens of P. atlantica as well as from P. atlantica sensu Kim and Lee from Korea. Morphological characteristics and rbcL sequence analyses support the taxonomic placement of P. ulleungensis within Polysiphonia sensu stricto.

Key words: Polysiphonia atlantica; Polysiphonia ulleungensis sp. nov.; rbcL; Rhodomelaceae; taxonomy