Phylogenetically distant clade of Nostoc-like taxa with the description of Minunostoc gen. nov. and Minunostoc cylindricum sp. nov

Abstract

Two cyanobacterial strains morphologically identified to the genus Nostoc were isolated from a wet rocky wall in a mid-subtropical region in China, and they were taxonomically and phylogenetically characterized based on the polyphasic approach combining morphological and genetic characteristics. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that the two strains containing six clones were all >99.6% similar to each other, but had < 94.3% similarities to the existing cyanobacterial genera. The phylogenies based on 16S rRNA and rpoC1 gene sequences indicated that their sequences grouped into a unique and robust cluster with high bootstrap values. This unique cluster was separated from the clade of the 'Nostoc sensu stricto' and the respective clades formed by the morphologically similar genera Mojavia, Desmonostoc, Aliinostoc, Komarekiella and Halotia. The 16S-23S rRNA ITS secondary structure of the both strains exhibited the unique pattern of D1-D1´, Box-B and V3 helix, distinguishing it from the other heterocytous genera. Such a clear cluster leads to the establishment of Minunostoc gen. nov., with the type species as Minunostoc cylindricum sp. nov.