Phylogenetic and taxonomic position of the genus Wollea with the description of Wollea salina sp. nov. (Cyanobacteria, Nostocales)

Abstract

The taxonomic separation of the related heterocytous cyanobacterial genera Wollea and Anabaena is unclear according to traditional taxonomic features, as modern polyphasic approach has not yet been applied to compare them. However, comparison of the type species of these genera and their polyphasic analyses enable the separation of both generic entities. Definitions of their diacritical characters follow from the combination of their phylogenetic and morphological criteria. The concepts of Anabaena sensu stricto (particularly without planktic types with gas vesicles in cells - Dolichospermum) and Wollea, derived from their types are proposed in the article and their review is presented in the table. A new species from saltworks in southern Thailand, W. salina, is described.