© 2019 The Korean Society of Phycology. A new encrusting red alga was found growing abundantly on glass debris items that drifted ashore along the coasts of Oregon and Washington. These included discarded fluorescent tubes, incandescent light bulbs, capped liquor bottles, and ball-shaped fishing-net floats. Field collections and unialgal cultures of the alga revealed that it consisted of two morphological phases: a young loosely aggregated turf and a mature consolidated mucilaginous crust. The turf phase consisted of a basal layer of globose cells that produced erect, rarely branched, uniseriate to multiseriate filaments up to 500 µm long with closely spaced cells lacking pit-plugs. These filaments expanded in size from their bases to their tips and released single cells as spores. At maturity, a second phase of growth occurred that produced a consolidated crust, up to 370 µm thick. It consisted of a basal layer of small, tightly appressed ellipsoidal-to-elongate cells that generated a mucilaginous perithallial matrix containing a second type of filament with irregularly spaced cells often undergoing binary division. At the matrix surface, the original filaments continued to grow and release spores but often also eroded. Individual cells, examined using confocal microscopy and SYBR Green staining, were found to contain a central nucleus, a single highly lobed peripheral chloroplast without a pyrenoid, and numerous chloroplast nucleoids. Morphological data from field and culture isolates and molecular data (rbcL, psbA, and SSU) show that this alga is a new genus and species which we name Viator vitreocola, “a traveller on glass.”

An unknown microscopic, branched filamentous red alga was isolated into culture from coral fragments collected in Coral Bay, Western Australia. It grew well unattached or attached to glass with no reproduction other than fragmentation of filaments. Cells of some branch tips became slightly contorted and digitated, possibly as a substrate-contact-response seen at filament tips of various algae. Attached multicellular compact disks on glass had a very different cellular configuration and size than the free filaments. In culture the filaments did not grow on or in coral fragments. Molecular phylogenies based on four markers (rbcL, cox1, 18S, 28S) clearly showed it belongs to the order Rhodogorgonales, as a sister clade of Renouxia. Based on these results, the alga is described as the new genus and species Rhodenigma contortum in the Rhodogorgonaceae. It had no morphological similarity to either of the other genera in Rhodogorgonaceae and illustrates the unknown diversity in cryptic habitats such as tropical coral rubble.

Thorea indica sp. nov. is described from the Sai River, Uttar Pradesh, India (26 degrees 39'00.7 '' N, 80 degrees 47'38.3 '' E). Its classification is based on molecular sequences of the plastid-encoded RuBisCO large-subunit gene, rbcL and the barcode region of the mitochondrial encoded cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1, cox1, and morphological data. The sequence analyses confirm a new species of Thorea. The cox1 barcode sequence had 90.4-90.8% identity with Thorea sp. from Australia and Thorea hispida from Hawaii and China. Based on rbcL sequences the Indian specimen was positioned in a major clade with high support (>95 bootstrap and 0.95 posterior probability) containing two other species: T. okadae from Japan and T. hispida from the continental USA, Hawaii, the UK, and China. The divergences among these sequences were T indica vs. T. okadae (2.8%) and T indica vs. T hispida (2.9-3.4%). The comparison of morphological characters of Thorea from India was not conclusive due to the inadequate descriptions in previous reports: most specimens reported as T hispida fit within the circumscription of T. indica as described here. The previous report of T. siamensis from the Sal River is incorrect and the specimens fit within our description of T. indica. Thorea indica and T okadae can be distinguished by minor morphometric characters and sexuality (dioecious vs. monoecious).

The question of whether morphological differences observed in specimens is due to multiple species or one variable species has always caused problems for taxonomists. The most recent taxonomic treatment of the 'Bostrychia tenella species complex' suggested that much of the morphological variation represented a single highly variable entity. We used molecular data from all three genomes to clarify the phylogeny, species status and phylogeography of samples collected worldwide and also in sympatry of this complex. Our data strongly support five genetic species in this complex, but only three morphological entities were recognized. The first, divided into two genetic species, fits characters associated with B. binderi, occasionally possessing short monosiphonous determinate laterals but lacking them most of the time. We therefore resurrect B. binderi, even though we could not assign a name to either of the two genetic species, as we are missing molecular evidence from the type specimen. One genetic species was morphologically recognized as B. montagnei. Another lineage consisted of the two genetic species that fall into a new circumscription of B. tenella, with long monosiphonous determinate laterals. Again we were unable to assign either of these two lineages to a type, nor could we find morphological differences between the two lineages. Many of the genetic species have worldwide distributions, except for B. montagnei, which appears to be restricted to the Americas. Our molecular-assisted taxonomy has helped clarify some of the morphological variation within the B. tenella species complex into three named species, but two cryptic species were still recognized that remain morphologically cryptic.

Small red algae, especially those previously referred to as 'primitive' are often overlooked, but can be quite abundant. These 'primitive' red algae are now placed in several classes distinct from the Florideophyceae, for example the Stylonematophyceae. A brownish-red filamentous alga was collected from a sandy tide pool at Cape Tribulation, Queensland, Australia. Cultured specimens were identified as Bangiopsis and conformed to the morphological characters of the genus (multicellular base, erect filaments branched or unbranched, uniseriate to multiseriate-tubular, single multilobed purple-red to red-brown plastid with central pyrenoid, vegetative cells released directly as spores). Molecular data of two plastid genes (rbcL, psbA) support placement of the Australian isolate and isolates from India in Bangiopsis. The genetic variation between these isolates and isolates from Puerto Rico previously attributed to B. subsimplex indicates that these should be considered as a separate species. As the type locality is in the Atlantic Ocean, French Guiana, and not far from Puerto Rico, and the Puerto Rican isolate has been used often in phylogenetic analyses, we propose that the Indian and Pacific Ocean isolates be designated a new species, B. franklynottii, to acknowledge Ott's many years of research on inconspicuous freshwater and marine red algae. Our research also highlights the lack of careful descriptions in many of the records of this genus and the lack of morphological characters to distinguish species. Especially within the morphologically simple red algae, morphological distinctness does not necessarily reflect evolutionary divergences.

The descriptions of galls, or tumors, in red algae have been sparse. Kutzing (1865) observed possible galls of Bostrychia but only presented a drawing. Intensive culture observations of hundreds of specimens of the genus Bostrychia over many years have revealed that galls appeared in only a small subset of our unialgal cultures of B. kelanensis, Bostrychia moritziana / radicans, B. radicosa, B. simpliciuscula, and B. tenella and continued to be produced intermittently or continuously over many years in some cultures but were never seen in field specimens. Galls appeared as unorganized tissue found primarily on males and bisexuals, but occasionally on females and tetrasporophytes. The gall cells usually were less pigmented than neighboring tissue, but contained cells with fluorescent plastids and nuclei. The galls were not transferable to other potential hosts. Galls could be produced from gall-free tissue of cultures that originally had galls even after transfer to new culture dishes. Electon microscopy of galls on one isolate (3895) showed that virus-like particles are observed in some gall cells. It is possible that a virus is the causative agent of these galls.

The mangrove algal flora of Guam and the Federated States of Micronesia has been poorly explored. We add to our knowledge of this region by observations of collections from these regions. This paper presents new and additional records of: Rhodophyta-Acrochaetium globosum, Colaconema sp., Caulacanthus indicus, Bostrychia moritziana I B. radicans, B. radicosa, B. simpliciuscula, B. kelanensis and B. tenella, Murrayella periclados, and Caloglossa ogasawaraensis; Chlorophyta-Boodleopsis carolinensis; and Phaeophyceae-Dictyota adnata, Dictyotopsis propagulifera, and Canistrocarpus cervicornis. Most specimens were cultured to investigate their reproductive biology and many specimens were further identified using molecular data. Low molecular weight carbohydrates (dulcitol, sorbitol, and digeneaside) were identified in samples of B. radicosa and B. simpliciuscula. We also present data on manganese-rich deposits found on B. simpliciuscula and B. tenella in culture, possibly formed by epiphytic bacteria.

A morphologically distinct lineage within the Bostrychia moritziana-B. radicans species complex is described as a new species. Bostrychia anomala has thalli with branched monosiphonous filaments with apical cell divisions. The species has terminal tetrasporangial stichidia, each subtending cell bearing tetrasporangia with 2 cover cells. Discharged spores divide transversely, the lower cell first forming a narrow rhizoid and the upper cell forming a monosiphonous shoot. Females have subterminal procarps and males have terminal spermatangial stichidia. Carposporophytes are spherical. Isolates in culture show a pattern of cell death not associated with injury, reminiscent of programmed cell death. Bostrychia anomola shows cell death at intervals along the filaments resulting in division of adjacent cells on either side of the dead cell re-joining the filament; cell division of only one adjacent cell resulting in branching at that site; or filaments fragmenting at the cell death point with adjacent cells forming new apical cells, a means of thallus propagation. The cell death pattern could be a method of filament propagation in the mangrove environment where sexual reproduction is rare.

The marine unicellular red algal genus Rhodella was established in 1970 by L. V.Evans with a single species R. maculata based on nuclear projections into the pyrenoid.Porphyridium violaceum was described by P. Kornmann in 1965 and transferred to Rhodella by W. Wehrmeyer in 1971 based on plastid features and the non-parietal position of the nucleus.Molecular and fine structural evidences have now revealed that Rhodella maculata and R. violacea are one species, so R. violacea has nomenclatural priority and the correct name is Rhodella violacea (Kornmann) Wehrmeyer.The status of families within Rhodellophyceae was examined.The order Dixoniellales and family Dixoniellaceae are emended to include only Dixoniella and Neorhodella.The order Rhodellales and family Rhodellaceae are emended to include Rhodella and Corynoplastis.Glaucosphaera vacuolata Korshikov and the Glaucosphaeraceae Skuja (1954) with an emended description are transferred to the Glaucosphaerales ord.nov.

Abstract The algae of El Salvador have received limited attention. We combined collections from the mangroves of El Salvador and neighboring southern Mexico, and used culture studies and molecular analysis to gain insights into the diversity in this poorly explored region. Bostrychia montagnei, Caloglossa apomeiotica, and Caloglossa ogasawaraensis were newly recorded in El Salvador. Bostrychia montagnei has not been reported from the Pacific Americas before. B. montagnei normally produced axial cells with two-tier cells, typical of the species, but sometimes a series of axial cells had three-tier cells. This was a significant tier cell number variation not previously seen in Bostrychia species. Bostrychia montagnei had a Polysiphonia-type sexual life history with both unisexual and bisexual gametophytes. Caloglossa apomeiotica isolates in culture from El Salvador and Chiapas, Mexico, either had a normal sexual life history or asexual recycling of tetrasporophytes. Those found in El Salvador were the first record of C. apomeiotica south of Jalisco, Mexico, a distance of 1200 km. Four strains isolated from El Salvador and Chiapas, Mexico, which were morphologically part of the Caloglossa leprieurii sensu lato lineage, were analyzed; however, they were not closely related to any named species, indicating that this is a new species that will require further study.

The phylogeny of morphologically simple algae is problematic due to insufficient morphological characters to aid in distinguishing species and relationships. The problem is further compounded because multiple evolutionary lineages of morphologically similar species occur in most well-sampled biogeographic locations; therefore, location cannot be used as a proxy for species. The phylogeny of the upright members of the Erythropeltidales is partially clarified by combining molecular data, unialgal culture observations, and worldwide sampling. Our results show that there are several well-supported lineages within the Erythropeltidales with only two morphologically recognizable taxa at present. The first is the genus Porphyrostromium, with a well-developed basal crust, which includes two Erythrotrichia species (Porphyrostromium ligulatum comb. nov. and Porphyrostromium pulvinatum comb. nov.). The second is the branched species Erythrotrichia welwitschii (Rupr.) Batters. There are also six strongly supported Erythrotrichia carnea-like lineages. While not completely satisfactory, we propose that one lineage (lineage 2) with samples close to the type locality be designated as E. carnea with a specific isolate as an epitype. The lack of morphology to differentiate the other lineages leads to a taxonomy based solely on gene sequencing and molecular phylogeny, with rbcL sequences differentiating the lineages proposed. We hold off on proposing more species and genera until more data and samples can be gathered.

The unicellular marine red alga Erythrolobus australicus sp.nov.(Porphyridiophyceae) was isolated into laboratory culture from mangroves in Queensland and New South Wales, Australia.The single multi-lobed red to rose-red plastid has more than one pyrenoid and lacks a peripheral thylakoid.Arrays of small electron dense globules occur along the thylakoids.The nucleus is peripheral with a central to eccentric nucleolus.Each Golgi body is associated with a mitochondrion.The spherical cells are positively phototactic with slow gliding movement.The psaA + psbA phylogeny clearly showed that E. australicus is a distinct species, which is closely related to E. coxiae.The chemotaxonomically relevant and most abundant low molecular weight carbohydrate in E. australicus is floridoside with concentrations between 209 and 231 µmol g -1 dry weight.Traces of digeneaside were also detected.These various approaches help to understand the taxonomic diversity of unicellular red algae.

The genus Rosenvingea is well known in the tropics. Four species have been reported from Pacific Mexico: R. floridana, R. antillarum, R. intricata and R. sanctae-crucis. We collected a plant (Boca del Cielo, Chiapas) that we identified as Rosenvingea orientalis, a species not previously reported from Pacific Mexico. We were able to characterize the life cycle of this species for the first time in laboratory culture. It reproduced exclusively by plurilocular sporangia (plurangia). The mature plants were up to 6 cm long with cylindrical to compressed fronds (to 2 mm wide) with dichotomous branches in the upper half of the thallus. The medulla was hollow with 2-3 layers of large inflated colourless cells at the periphery. The cortex was comprised of 1 layer of small cells, each with a single chloroplast and pyrenoid. Linear plurangial sori with phaeophycean hairs formed along the mature fronds. Zoospore germlings developed into prostrate filamentous systems, each with a single phaeophycean hair that gave rise to a single erect shoot with multiple hairs arising near the tip. Molecular phylogeny using the psaA gene placed this isolate within the Scytosiphonaceae. It does not confirm the exact identification of R. orientalis, although its placement close to other Rosenvingea sequences was confirmed and morphological evidence supports its placement in R. orientalis. Our culture investigations indicated that it has an asexual life cycle. Further collections are needed to resolve the full generic and specific relationships of Rosenvingea and related taxa, and their reproductive patterns.

Pulvinus veneticus gen. et sp. nov. is a small (< 500 [Lm in diameter), cushion shaped epiphyte isolated into culture from Caloglossa vieillardii that was collected from Vanuatu. Molecular analysis places Pulvinus veneticus in the Compsopogonales. It has prostrate-adherent filaments or free filaments with one or more discoid to spiral bluish-green plastids without pyrenoids per cell. Pulvinus is euryhaline, growing and reproducing in salinities of 2 to 30 practical salinity units (psu). Monosporangia are formed successively by terminal branch cells or when a sector of a thallus gelatinises, releasing masses of spores. Monospores are round (6-10 mu m diameter) and glide at speeds up to 4.5 mu m s(-1). Some monospores have an extracellular polysaccharide tail and move more slowly, 0.25 to 1.0 mu m s-1. Spores avoid contact with other objects and do not require substrate contact during movement. The ultrastructure of Pulvinus is very similar to that of Compsopogon and Boldia in that the cis-region of Golgi bodies is not associated with a mitochondrion and plastids have a peripheral thylakoid. No pit connections occur between derivative cells.

Red algae of the Bostrychia radicans / B. moritziana species complex are common in mangrove habitats. This group consists of seven highly divergent evolutionary lineages based on a plastid-encoded marker (RuBisCo spacer). We sampled this species complex around the island of New Caledonia. On the west coast of the island most samples were of Lineage I (four haplotypes), the most common lineage in the western Pacific Ocean. On the east coast of the island Lineage 1 samples were less common, with samples from lineages 2, 6, and 7, which have a world-wide distribution, predominating. Lineage I samples from the west coast had mostly an asexual reproductive life cycle (i.e. recycling tetrasporophytes) while the ones on the cast coast were mostly sexual. A set of samples collected at a nickel ore port (Kouaoua, east coast), and found in Lineage 7 had a haplotype identical to a Florida USA sample. This study shows that biodiversity of algae can not solely be determined from morphological data. This study also highlights the differences in diversity between the east and west coasts of New Caledonia and suggests that historical, ecological and recent factors may have contributed to this difference.

We report the complete mitochondrial sequences of three brown algae (Dictyota dichotoma, Fucus vesiculosus and Desmarestia viridis) belonging to three phaeophycean lineages. They have circular mapping organization and contain almost the same set of mitochondrial genes, despite their size differences (31,617, 36,392 and 39,049 bp, respectively). These include the genes for three rRNAs (23S, 16S and 5S), 25-26 tRNAs, 35 known mitochondrial proteins and 3-4 ORFs. This gene set complements two previously studied brown algal mtDNAs, Pylaiella littoralis and Laminaria digitata. Exceptions to the very similar overall organization include the displacement of orfs, tRNA genes and four protein-coding genes found at different locations in the D. dichotoma mitochondrial genome. We present a phylogenetic analysis based on ten concatenated genes (7,479 nucleotides) and 29 taxa. Stramenopiles were always monophyletic with heterotrophic species at the base. Results support both multiple primary and multiple secondary acquisitions of plastids.

We describe here the complete sequence (58,507 bp) of the mitochondrial genome of the brown alga Pylaiella littoralis (Ectocarpales). This molecule displays an AT content of 62.0% and contains seventy-nine genes, most of them (73) encoded on one strand. They include the usual mitochondrial set of protist genes and a number of rarer genes. Among these, several ribosomal protein genes and the rn5 were identified. Twenty-four tRNA genes are present in this genome, insufficient to decode all genes. The other conspicuous features of this molecule are: a large (3018 nucleotides) in-frame insertion of unknown function in the cox2 gene; the presence of two different lineages of group II introns, including complete reverse transcriptase-like genes, one in the cox1 and the other in the rnl gene; the concomitant occurrence of a T7-like RNA polymerase and of several well-conserved α-proteobacterial-type promoters; and a small nad11 gene, coding for the first domain only of this NADH dehydrogenase subunit. Altogether, the mitochondrial genome of P. littoralis exhibits both α-proteobacterial characteristics and evidences of the independent integration of several exogenous DNA fragments.

. The mitochondrial genome of the brown alga Pylaiella littoralis contains two different types of group II introns. They each encode complete complex proteins, i.e., with a reverse transcriptase domain, a maturase or X domain, and an endonuclease or H-N-H/zinc finger domain. To our knowledge, this is the first example of the presence in the same genome of introns belonging to subgroups IIA and IIB which both contain multidomained RT-like proteins. We describe the group IIA introns that interrupt the cox1 gene. The RT-like proteins contained in these introns were compared to those of the LSU rDNA group IIB introns. The phylogenetic relationships of these intron ORFs were investigated and the possible evolution of group II introns is discussed.

We have characterized the cDNA and genomic sequences that encode actin from the multicellular red alga Chondrus crispus. Southern-blot analysis indicates that the C. crispus actin gene (ChAc) is present as a single copy. Northern analysis shows that, like the GapA gene, the actin gene is well expressed in gametophytes but weakly in protoplasts. Compared to actin genes of animals, fungi, green plants and oomycetes, that of C. crispus displays a higher evolutionary rate and does not show any of the amino-acid signatures characteristic of the other lineages. As previously described for GapA, ChAc is interrupted by a single intron at the beginning of the coding region. The site of initiation of transcription was characterized by RNAse protection. The promoter region displays a CAAT box but lacks a canonical TATA motif. Other noticeable features, such as a high content of pyrimidines as well as a 14-nt motif found in both the 5'-untranslated region and the intron, were observed.

Organellar DNA, i.e. a mixture of plastid and mitochondrial DNAs, was purified from the rhodophyte Chondrus crispus and analysed with restriction endonucleases. Mitochondrial DNA fragments were identified by heterologous hybridization, cloned, mapped and partially sequenced. The mitochondrial genome of C. crispus consists of a 25.9 kb circular molecule on which twenty genes were localized. Compared with other plant mitochondrial genomes, C. crispus mitochondrial DNA appears as a relatively small molecule with a high coding capacity and a specific gene organization. The use of a modified genetic code and the absence of RNA editing, previously reported for the cox3 gene, is a general characteristic of the sequenced genes of this molecule. This is the first detailed description of a red algal mitochondrial genome.