The reclassification of 37 strains from The Mosonmagyaróvár Algal Culture Collection, Hungary, which were previously identified as Anabaena (Cyanobacteria, Nostocaceae)

Abstract

Study on 37 MACC isolates previously identified as “Anabaena,” a freshwater filamentous heterocytous taxon, were carried out using the 16S rRNA. The study found that most of the strains were misidentified at genus level. Three clusters of phylogenetically and morphologically similar taxa were identified. The previous determinations were amended with their new taxonomic classifications (partly due to changes in cyanobacterial classification). Some morphological structures could not be found in the cultures (e.g. akinetes). Molecular data revealed that 6 of the 37 strains are Desmonostoc, 8 are members of the genus Nostoc, 19 strains bear genetic resemblance to the genus Trichormus and 4 strains remain unresolved. Clades were established by 16S rRNA similarity and p-distances. The goal of this study was to amend the strain designations in this collection. This study reveals the necessity to revisit established culture collections that originally used only morphological classifications for species identification.