Sequence-based phygeography and conservation of seaweeds from indian subcontinents

Abstract

Phylogeography is the study of historical events which are responsible for evolution and current distribution of a species in different geographical area. However very less record is available about marine macroalgae of Indian subcontinent. This study investigated the DNA barcoding and phylogeographical distribution of marine algae from the Indian subcontinent. Different algae samples collected from various coasts of Indian subcontinent are amplified using ITS, COX and rbcL primers. In our results, we found the occurrence of green algae like Ulva reticulata, Ulva intestinalis, Ulva fasciata, Ulva proliifera, Ulva ohnoi and one sample with Caulerpa scalpelliformis ; Red algae, Gracilaria foliifera, Gracilaria domingensis, Gracilaria corticata, Grateloupia Sp., Ceramium Sp., Centroceras clavulatum, Erythrocladia Sp., Erythrocladia irregularis, Acanthophora Sp., Dilsea socialis, Hypnea stelullifera, Sirodotia tenuissima and Dichotomaria Sp.; Brown algae, Sargassum zhangii, Sargassum megalocystum, Sargassum aquifolium and Turbinaria ornata in Indian subcontinent. Gracilaria domingenesis, Dilsea socialis, Sargassum megalosystum were first time reported in India. On the basis of molecular studies, we found that Ceramium Sp. Nov., Erythrocladia Sp. Nov., Acanthophora Sp Nov., Grateloupia Sp. Nov. and Dichotomaria Sp. Nov. were identified as new species. Erythrocladia irregularis was identified as endophytic algae inside green algae Cladophora glomerata. Phylogenetic tree was generated to analyse the evolutionary distance between different samples. Morphological and microscopic studies were performed for each sample. This study further helps in identification and documentation of new species and cryptic species. All samples were pressed for herbarium voucher.