Phylogenetic complexities of the members of Rivulariaceae with the re-creation of the family Calotrichaceae and description of Dulcicalothrix necridiiformans gen nov., sp nov., and reclassification of Calothrix desertica.

Abstract

A freshwater dwelling, tapering, heterocytous cyanobacterium (strain V13) was isolated from an oligotrophic pond in the Shrirampur taluka, Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra in India. Initial morphological examination indicated that strain V13 belonged to the genus Calothrix. Subsequent molecular and phylogenetic assessment based on 16S rRNA gene, led us to describe the freshwater/terrestrial clade of Calothrix strains without terminal hairs as a new genus Dulcicalothrix gen. nov., with the type species Dulcicalothrix necridiiformans sp. nov. (Strain V13) on the basis of the necridia forming ability of the strain. Also, the 16S-23S ITS secondary structure analysis clearly differentiated strain V13 from the other members of the clade. Past studies and the current state of knowledge makes it imperative to separate the groups Calothrix (marine/freshwater Calothrix), Macrochaete and Dulcicalothrix (freshwater/terrestrial Calothrix) into separate genera in accordance with the International Code of Nomenclature for Algae, Fungi and Plants. Robust phylogenetic evidence and previous reports strongly support the re-erection of the family Calotrichaceae distinct from the existing family Rivulariaceae.