Revised phylogenetic position of Nephrocytium Nageli (Sphaeropleales, Chlorophyceae), with the description of Nephrocytiaceae fam. nov. and Nephrocytium vieirae sp. nov.

Author(s)

da Silva, Thais Garcia ^[1] ; Stenclova, Lenka ^{[2, 3]} ; Pereira Archanjo, Naiara Carolina ^{[1, 4]} ; Bagatini, Inessa Lacativa ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Fed Univ Sao Carlos UFSCar, Dept Bot, Lab Phycol, BR-13560590 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ South Bohemia, Fac Sci, Branisovska 31, Ceske Budejovice 37005 - Czech Republic

^[3] CAS, Biol Ctr, Inst Hydrobiol, Branisovska 31, Ceske Budejovice 37005 - Czech Republic

^[4] Univ Fed Sao Carlos, Postgrad Program Ecol & Nat Resources PPGERN, BR-13560590 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Taxon; v. 70, n. 5 AUG 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

The common planktonic green algal genus Nephrocytium was traditionally assumed to have a close relationship with the genus Oocystis and accordingly has been included in the family Oocystaceae. Although the position of Nephrocytium within the Oocystaceae has differed according to some authors over the years, its inclusion in the family has not been questioned. Following molecular studies of Oocystis, the Oocystaceae (including Nephrocytium) was removed from the class Chlorophyceae and placed in the Trebouxiophyceae. However, recent molecular studies of some of the former Oocystaceae members have returned them to the Chlorophyceae. These studies suggested the placement of Nephrocytium in the Sphaeropleales, but no taxonomic positioning within the order has been determined for the genus. The relocation of Nephrocytium agrees with a strong morphological trait - it lacks the oocystaceaean multilayered ultrastructure of the cell wall. Based on molecular markers (18S rDNA and tufA), and optical and electron microscopy, the present study aimed to establish the relationships of the genus within the Sphaeropleales. The results support the recognition of a new family, the Nephrocytiaceae, to accommodate Nephrocytium. Furthermore, we have carried out a review of previously described Nephrocytium species and based on morphological and molecular data we propose the description of Nephrocytium vieirae sp. nov. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 19/03177-5 - Applications of the biodiversity of native microalgae in Brazil: importance of taxonomic, systematic and molecular phylogeny.
• Grantee: Thaís Garcia da Silva
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 11/50054-4 - Biodiversity of freshwater microalgae: germplasm bank and obtaining of molecular markers of cryopreserved species
• Grantee: Armando Augusto Henriques Vieira
• Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 13/18083-0 - Selenastraceae (Chlorococcales) family: evaluation of molecular marker potencies for DNA barcoding and for phylogeny of the genera Monoraphidium and Ankistrodesmus
• Grantee: Inessa Lacativa Bagatini
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 16/07089-5 - Biogeography of Selenastraceae (Chlorophyceae, Sphaeropleales): cosmopolitanism and distribution pattern in the light of molecular systematics
• Grantee: Thaís Garcia da Silva
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 13/17457-3 - Traditional taxonomy and analysis of the 18S rDNA, ITS2 and rbcL sequences of species of the freshwater microalgae family Selenastraceae
• Grantee: Thaís Garcia da Silva
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate (Direct)
• FAPESP's process: 12/19520-1 - Biodiversity of Selenastraceae (freshwater Chlorococcaceae microalgae): morphological characteristics and sequencing of 18S rDNA as a traditional taxonomic basis for obtaining the DNA barcode
• Grantee: Thaís Garcia da Silva
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)