Carminoleptolyngbya Gen. Nov. and Kondratevia Gen. Nov.: Two New Cyanobacterial Genera from Terrestrial Habitats of Germany and Ukraine Based on a Polyphasic Approach

During revision of the algal culture collection of the Institute of Botany (IBASU-A), Ukraine, some interesting strains of cyanobacteria were discovered, potentially representing new phylogenetic lineages at the genus rank. A polyphasic approach combining 16S rRNA gene phylogeny, percentage identity of 16S rRNA, 16S-23S ITS secondary structures, morphological and ultrastructural analyses was used to describe (according to the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi and plants) two new taxa: Carminoleptolyngbya arenaria gen. et sp. nov. (Leptolyngbyales, Leptolyngbyaceae) and Kondratevia charkoviensis gen. et sp. nov. (Oscillatoriales, Microcoleaceae). These cultures had been obtained from terrestrial habitats of Germany (Baltic sand dunes) and Ukraine (cretaceous outcrops of Kharkiv region) respectively. C. arenaria has a Leptolyngbya-like morphology: thin, tortuous, greyish-pinkish trichomes, constricted and granulated at the cross-walls, with elongated cells and delicate sheaths, forming a film of carmine (=crimson-red) colour on the agar surface. TEM showed parietal parallel thylakoids typical of Leptolyngbyales and Oculatellales. This strain forms a well-supported lineage within Leptolyngbyales together with several strains identified as Leptolyngbya and Pseudanabaena from freshwater and terrestrial habitats of Europe and Asia, that might represent other unknown species of Carminoleptolyngbya. Phylogenetic analysis placed this taxon within Leptolyngbyaceae with Stenomitos as closest relative. K. charkoviensis has a Microcoleus- or Phormidium-like morphology: trichomes straight, cylindrical, slightly constricted at the cross-walls, tapered and curved at the ends, sheath firm, hyaline or yellowish, with elongated, conical-rounded and bent terminal cells. This strain forms a well-supported lineage within Oscillatoriales, Microcoleaceae with Kamptonema, Tychonema, Microcoleus and Microcoleusiopsis as closest relatives. TEM showed waved parallel thylakoids located near cell walls and within the cell which is typical for Oscillatoriales. Our data confirm that many undiscovered cyanobacteria still exist not only in terrestrial habitats, but also in algal culture collections.