LOPEZ-BAUTISTA, J. M.1*, R. L. CHAPMAN2, F. RINDI3, and M. GUIRY3. 1Department of Biology, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, LA 70504-2451 U.S.A.; 2Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803-1705 U.S.A.; 3Department of Botany, Martin Ryan Institute, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland. - Molecular systematics of the subaerial green algal family Trentepohliaceae (Chlorophyta; Trentepohliales) inferred from 18 SSU rDNA sequences.
Representatives of the monophyletic Trentepohliales are widely
distributed in the tropics, subtropics, and temperate regions
worldwide. They grow in soil, or are epilithic, epiphytic or
endophytic. The family comprises approximately 70 species placed in at
least four genera (Trentepohlia, Cephaleuros, Phycopeltis and
Stomatochroon), with Trentepohlia sensu lato (including
Printzina and Physolinum) accounting for half of the
species in this family. PCR amplification and sequencing of the 18 SSU
rDNA of 18 isolates of the Trentepohliaceae were used to assess the
monophyly of the genus Cephaleuros and to determine the
phylogenetic relationships among species of Trentepohlia sensu
lato. Distance, Parsimony, and Maximum Likelihood analyses indicate
that Trentepohlia sensu lato is basal and includes two species
recently transferred to Phycopeltis (P. umbrina) and
Printzina (P. lagenifera). In contrast,
Cephaleuros is a derived monophyletic clade. Analysis of
isolates of Cephaleuros virescens, from the US, Taiwan, and
South Africa indicate that this taxon may consist of different species
sharing a convergent morphology. The results of this study have
implications for the taxonomy of the genera.
Key words: 18SSU rDNA, Cephaleuros, Chlorophyta, Molecular Systematics, Trentepohlia, Trentepohliaceae