Umbraulva, A New Genus Based on Ulva japonica (Holmes) Papenfuss (Ulvaceae, Chlorophyta)

Algae > Volume 16(3); 2001 > Article

Algae 2001;16(3): 217-231.

Eun Hee Bae, In Kyu Lee

School of Biological Science, Seoul National University

ABSTRACT

Ulva japonica (Holmes) Papenfuss and U. amamiensis Tanaka are distinguished from the other Ulva species by olive-green color and deep-water habitat. They are very similar to U. olivascens Dangeared having siphonaxanthin as an accessory pigment. Ulva japonica and U. amamiensis are reported from Korea and Japan, and U. olivascens from the Atlantic coast. Pairwise divergences of ITS sequences were 6.5-6.7% among these three species and ranged from 17-27% in comparing them to other Ulva and Enteromorpha species. Phylogenetic analyses ITS sequences strongly supported that U. japonica, U. amamiensis, and U. olivascens were clearly separated from the other ulvacean members. The analysis of partial SSU rDNA sequences showed that Ulva Jaonica and U. amamiensis were apart from Ulva/Enteromorpha complex, revealing 3.0-3.3% of sequence divergences. Based on distinct olive-green colored blade, containing siphonaxanthin pigment, subtidal habitat, and divergence of ITS and partial SSU rDNA sequences, compared to other Ulva plants, we establish a new genus Umbraulva. Three members are placed in this new genus; Umbraulva japonica (Holmes) com. nov. as type species, U. amamiensis (Tanaka) and U. olivascens (Dangeard).

Key words: Chlorophyta, Ulvaceae, Umbraulva amamiensis comb. nov., Umbraulva gen. nov., Umbraulva japonica comb. nov., Umbraulva olivascens comb. nov.