Characteristics and utility of nuclear‐encoded large‐subunit ribosomal gene sequences in phylogenetic studies of red algae

Abstract

SUMMARYPrimer sequences are described for amplifying and sequencing a large fragment (approximately 2500 b.p.) of the nuclear‐encoded large‐subunit ribosomal RNA gene (LSU) from red algae. In comparison to RuBisCo large‐subunit gene (rbcL) and nuclear‐encoded small‐subunit ribosomal RNA gene (SSU) sequence data, LSU sequence data was intermediate in the number of phylogenetically informative positions and sequence divergence. Parsimony analysis of LSU sequences for 16 Gelidiales species resolved some nodes unresolved in rbcL and SSU parsimony trees. An analysis of LSU sequences from 13 species of red algae classified in 11 orders suggests that this gene may be useful in studies of higher‐level relationships of red algae.