Gelidium Crinale Research Articles

Genetic Diversity and Phylogeography of a Turf-Forming Cosmopolitan Marine Alga, Gelidium crinale (Gelidiales, Rhodo-Phyta).

Cosmopolitan species are rare in red algae, which have a low-dispersal capacity unless they are dispersed by human-mediated introductions. Gelidium crinale, a turf-forming red alga, has a widespread distribution in tropical and temperate waters. To decipher the genetic diversity and phylogeography of G. crinale, we analyzed mitochondrial COI-5P and plastid rbcL sequences from collections in the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Phylogenies of both markers statistically supported the monophyly of G. crinale, with a close relationship to G. americanum and G. calidum from the Western Atlantic. Based on the molecular analysis from these materials, Pterocladia heteroplatos from India is here merged with G. crinale. Phylogeny and TCS networks of COI-5P haplotypes revealed a geographic structure of five groups: (i) Atlantic-Mediterranean, (ii) Ionian, (iii) Asian, (iv) Adriatic-Ionian, and (v) Australasia-India-Tanzania-Easter Island. The most common ancestor of G. crinale likely diverged during the Pleistocene. The Bayesian Skyline Plots suggested the pre-LGM population expansion. Based on geographical structure, lineage-specific private haplotypes, the absence of shared haplotypes between lineages, and AMOVA, we propose that the cosmopolitan distribution of G. crinale has been shaped by Pleistocene relicts. The survival of the turf species under environmental stresses is briefly discussed.

A Synopsis of Introduced and Native Seaweeds from 14 Open Coastal and Estuarine Sites within Southern Maine and New Hampshire, U.S.A.

Floristic studies of introduced and native seaweed populations from 14 open coastal and estuarine sites within southern Maine and New Hampshire were documented between 1965 and 2017. A total of 186 seaweed taxa were recorded, including 15 introduced (8.1%) and 171 native (91.9%) species. The highest species diversity (123 taxa) occurred at the open coastal Seapoint Beach site in Kittery, Maine, and an estuarine tidal rapid site at Dover Point, New Hampshire, with 106 taxa. The numbers of introduced species per site ranged from 2–11. The percent occurrence patterns for the 15 introduced seaweeds were highly variable, with Codium fragile subsp. fragile and Ulonema rhizophorum being restricted to single sites (7%), Melanothamnus harveyi occurring at 12 sites (86%), and Agarophyton vermiculophyllum and Dasysiphonia japonica at 13 sites (93%). The geographical origins and initial collection dates for the 15 introduced taxa were highly variable, with their initial collections ranging from 1848 (M. harveyi) to 2007 (D. japonica). Codium fragile subsp. fragile had the most protracted period between its initial occurrence at Orient Point, New York, in 1957 and in northern New England 40 years later (i.e., 1997). By contrast, several other introduced taxa had rapid geographic expansions within five years. The numbers and abundance of introduced species in the Gulf of Maine have increased dramatically between 1986 and 2017, with nine recorded in 1986 and 15 in 2017. Two native warm-water red algae (Agardhiella subulata and Gelidium crinale) showed sudden northward expansions during 2016 and 2017, respectively. Their presence may be associated with global warming, which is presently occurring at an alarming rate within the Gulf of Maine and exceeds many areas within the world.

Amelioration of atherosclerosis in ox-LDL induced HUVEC by sulfated polysaccharides from Gelidium crinale with antihypertensive activity

Red algal polysaccharide is a good potential medical resource. Different red algal polysaccharides have different structural characteristics and rich biological activities. Previous studies have identified some structural information of sulfated polysaccharide (GNP, 25.8 kDa) from red algae, Gelidium crinale and found that GNP has excellent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-tumor activities. On this basis, this study investigated the effect of GNP on atherosclerosis, which is closely related to antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms and usually coexists and interacts with hypertension. This study investigated the inhibitory activity of GNP on angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and its mechanism on oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL)-induced HUVEC atherosclerosis. The results showed that GNP inhibits the up-regulation of cell adhesion molecules and oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1). GNP can regulate mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and PI3K/AKT signal pathways, inhibit apoptosis, invasion and migration. Meanwhile, GNP (IC50 = 269.2 μg/mL) antagonizes ACE by competitive binding mode, and it can reduce systolic blood pressure (SBP) of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). It provides a theoretical basis for GNP as a potential substance for the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis.

A Sulfated Polysaccharide from Red Algae (Gelidium crinale) to Suppress Cells Metastasis and MMP-9 Expression of HT1080 Cells.

Sulfated polysaccharides from red algae have a variety of biological activities, especially antitumor activities. Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) is a proteolytic metalloenzyme that degrades the central part of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and promotes tumor metastasis. In this research, we have investigated the influence and mechanism of GNP (sulfated polysaccharide from Gelidium crinale) on tumor metastasis and MMP-9 expression of human fibrosarcoma (HT1080) cells. The results inflected that the concentration of GNP below 100 μg/mL has no toxicity to HT1080 cells, but showed excellent activity in inhibiting cells migration and invasion. In addition, GNP effectively inhibits the mRNA of MMP-9 and reduces its expression and activity by regulating nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) and mTOR/PI3K/Akt signaling pathways. GNP has great potential as MMP-9 inhibitor and could be developed as a functional food or drug to prevent tumor metastasis.

Structural Characterization of Sulfated Polysaccharide Isolated From Red Algae (Gelidium crinale) and Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Effects in Macrophage Cells.

Gelidium crinale, the red algae belonging to Geliaceae Gelidium, is a traditional edible and industrial alga in China. A sulfated polysaccharide (GNP) is successfully separated from Gelidium crinale by acid extraction and two-step column chromatography. Chemical analysis showed that the molecular weight of GNP was 25.8 kDa and the monosaccharide composition had the highest galactose content and confirmed the presence and content (16.5%) of sulfate by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) spectrometry as well as barium chloride-gelatin methods. In addition, the effect of GNP on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced oxidative stress and inflammation in macrophages was also evaluated. The research results showed that GNP had fairly strong scavenging activities on 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical, hydroxyl radical, and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and had Fe2+-chelating ability in a dose-dependent manner. At the same time, it significantly inhibits the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in RAW 264.7 cells induced by LPS through blocking the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/nuclear factor kappa beta (NF-κB) signaling pathway. These results indicate that GNP may be a latent component anti-inflammation in pharmaceutical and functional food industries.

Adsorption of crude and waste diesel oil onto agar-carboxymethylcellulose-silver nanocomposite in aqueous media

Waste containing oil is generally classified as hazardous pollutants especially aquatic environment. A new agar-CMC-silver (AG-CMC-Agnp) nanocomposite was synthesized by surface modification of cellulose (extracted from Egyptian macroalga Ulva fasciata) to carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) anchored on silver nanoparticles (Agnp), followed by agar (AG; extracted from Gelidium crinale). A batch study was applied to evaluate the efficacy of these biomaterials to remove crude and waste diesel oil from water. The optimum parameters affecting oil adsorption (oil concentration, contact time, temperature, and sorbent dose) were investigated. AG-CMC-Agnp composite shows the highest adsorption capacity with 10.95 ± 0.47 and 8.95 ± 0.54 g g−1, for removal of crude and waste diesel oil from aqueous media, respectively, with excellent recyclability for more than nine cycles. The kinetic studies indicate that diesel oil diffused into the internal layers of AG-CMC Agnp and can be fitted to a pseudo- first order (PFORE) model. Furthermore, isotherm studies were discussed using the Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin and Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm models. The result showed that adsorption of diesel oil onto AG-CMC-Agnp could be best fitted with the Langmuir model with a maximum monolayer capacity of 12.26 and 11.04 (exp. 10.95 and 8.95) mg g−1, respectively. The spectral {Infrared (IR), UV–vis and X-Ray powder diffraction (XRD)}, and scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) micrographs with energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) of AG-CMC-Agnp composite indicated that, upon adsorption, oil molecules are covering the pores on the surface.

Improving Growth, Yield, and Quality of Tomato Plants (Solanum lycopersicum L) by the Application of Moroccan Seaweed-Based Biostimulants under Greenhouse Conditions

Background: Seaweed-derived extracts have gained popularity in agriculture as bioproducts with phytostimulatory effects on plant growth and development. Methods: This study assessed the effect of polysaccharide-enriched extracts (PEEs) derived from six Moroccan seaweeds on tomato growth, yield, and fruit quality. PPEs were applied to tomato plants as soil drench in a greenhouse experiment. Growth parameters including plant height (cm) and number of leaves, flowers, and flower buds were recorded every 15 days. Yield and quality parameters of the harvested fruits were also recorded after each harvest. Results: The obtained results showed that all PEEs improved the growth, yield, and fruit quality of treated tomato plants. According to principal component analysis, the presence of SO4, galactose, glucose, and maltose in the characterized polysaccharides was closely associated with their effect on plant growth, yield, and fruit quality parameters. Conclusions: PEEs obtained from Gelidium crinale,Schizymenia dubyi, Fucus spiralis, and Bifurcaria bifurcata exhibited the highest biostimulant effects and could be used as bioproducts for improved tomato yield and fruit nutritional quality.

Biostimulants Derived from Moroccan Seaweeds: Seed Germination Metabolomics and Growth Promotion of Tomato Plant

Polysaccharides extracted from seaweeds can function as plant biostimulants. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of Polysaccharide Enriched Extracts (PEEs) obtained from 17 Moroccan seaweeds, on tomato seed germination and plant growth. Three concentrations (0.02, 0.05 and 0.1 mg mL−1) of PEEs were applied to tomato seeds to evaluate their effect on 3 germination parameters: germination percentage (GP), germination speed (GS) and mean germination time (MGT). Metabolomic analysis by GC–MS was subsequently performed on seedlings. In the second experiment, four PEEs concentrations (0.02, 0.05, 0.1 and 0.2 mg mL−1) were used as foliar spray or as soil application to tomato plants. Their growth parameters (number of leaves, shoot length, fresh and dry weight of stem and roots) and biochemical parameters (chlorophyll a and b) were measured. Results indicated a significant increase of GP and GS associated with a significant reduction of MGT of tomato seeds treated with 0.02 mg mL−1 of PEEs obtained from Gigartina sp., Gigartina pistillata, Chondracanthus acicularis, Gelidium crinale, Schizymenia dubyi, Cystoseira. foeniculacea and Fucus spiralis. Similar results were also obtained by application of higher PEEs concentration (0.1 mg mL−1) extracted from Ulva rigida, Codium tomentosum, Codium decorticatum and Bifurcaria bifurcata. Metabolomic analysis on seedlings detected the presence of some metabolites which could possibly be involved in seed germination enhancement or inhibition. The results of the second experiment showed that the same PEEs cited above at the same concentrations enhanced plant dry weight and chlorophyll a content except Gigartina sp., C. foeniculacea and C. decorticatum. Furthermore, soil application of PEEs was more effective in improving plant growth parameters than foliar application. The study shows the potential of PEEs from Moroccan seaweed to be used as biostimulants for a sustainable agriculture.

JENIS ALGA MERAH (RHODOPHYTA) PADA EKOSISTEM HUTAN MANGROVE DI DUSUN EKAS, KABUPATEN LOMBOK TIMUR

Mangrove ecosystem is a unique ecosystem with a mix of marine and terrestrial environment. Mangrove forests provide food and nutrients for other organisms such as fish,crustaceans, and algae. Red algae play an important role in maintaining the balance of ecosystems and food chains. This study aims to determine the types, morphological characteristics and key identification, the relationship of red algae types and substrate types to the ecosystem of mangrove forest in Dusun Ekas. This research is explorative descriptive by using purposive sampling method at 5 stations. Based on the results of the red algae study obtained as many as 14 species are: Bostrychia sp., B. radicans, B. tenella, Chondria sp., Laurencia sp., Polysiphonia sp., Murrayella sp., C. Leprieurii, C. Monostica, Gelidium sp ., Gelidium crinale, Catenella caespitosa, Catenella nippae and Catenella sp.Characteristics of the talus were found to have a cylindrical talus and some like leaves (blade). Red algae (Rhodophyta) found more in the station that dominated by Soneratia alba species.

Phytochemical Constituents and Anticoagulation Property of Marine Algae Gelidium crinale, Sargassum hornschuchii and Ulva linza

Seaweeds, not only possess numerous essential nutrients but also, have evident useful features for the therapy of different diseases. The aim of this study was to examine the phytochemical, antioxidant activity and anticoagulation property of red algae Gelidium crinale, brown algae Sargassum hornschuchii and green algae Ulva linza, which were collected from Abo Qir bay at the north coast of Alexandria, Egypt. Phytochemical screening was assessed by many chemical analyses to the extracts of selected algae, whilst the anticoagulation property of these algae was assessed by determining prothrombin time (PT) and the active partial thromboplastin time (APTT). Besides, estimation of total antioxidant capacity (TAC), also the responsible functional groups in tested algae were identified by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and chemical constituents of seaweeds were characterized by GC-MS. Our results showed that, the selected seaweeds extract of G. crinale, S. hornschuchii and U. linza, contained phenols (2.97, 3.42 and 2.02 mg/g), flavonoids (9.46, 19.23 and 10.77 mg/g), tannins (18.68, 20.53 and 18.20 mg/g), total carbohydrate (38.534, 28.211and 24.421 mg/g) and total sulphate (14.30, 12.11 and 10.84 mg/g) of dry algae tissue respectively. Total antioxidant capacity as the following 2.032, 1.653 and 0.923mgAAE/g, in S. hornschuchii, U. linza and G. crinale, respectively. In this investigation, extracts of selected seaweeds act as natural products which have highly antioxidant activities due to the presences of Tetradecanoic acid, Hexadecanoic acid, Heptacosane, Diisooctyl phthalate, Squalene, 5,8,11,14-Eicosatetraenoic acid, methyl ester, (all-Z), Octadecanoic acid, 17-methyl, 9-Hexadecenoic acid, methyl ester, (Z) and Hexadecane which detected by GC-MS analysis. In conclusion, all three examined algal extracts were considered as natural product with high antioxidant activity and the anticoagulation property (evaluated by estimating the prothrombin time and the active partial thromboplastin time), which may be useful in the therapy of several cardiovascular diseases.

The Potentiality of Marine Macro-Algae as Bio-Fertilizers to Improve the Productivity and Salt Stress Tolerance of Canola (Brassica napus L.) Plants

The present study aimed to evaluate the potentiality of three seaweeds, which belong to different algal taxa (green alga Ulva lactuca Linnaeus, brown alga Cystoseira spp., and red alga Gelidium crinale (Hare ex Turner) Gaillon) as bio-fertilizers to improve the growth and yield of canola (Brassica napus L.) plants under greenhouse conditions. Furthermore, the impact of seaweeds in alleviating the effects of salt stress (75 and 150 mM NaCl) on canola plants was also investigated. The three examined seaweeds (applied as soil amendments) successfully alleviated the harmful effects of salinity on canola plants by significantly reducing the inhibition of chlorophyll a, b, total carbohydrate accumulation, and growth promoting hormones, while increasing antioxidative compounds, such as phenols, flavonoids, anthocyanin, and osmoprotectants, including total carbohydrates and proline. Phytochemical analysis of the three examined seaweeds suggests that their stimulatory effect on growth and productivity under normal and salinity growth conditions may be linked to their constituents of a wide variety of growth promotive hormones, including indole acetic acid, indole butyric acid, gibberellic acid, cytokinins, total carbohydrates, and phenolic compounds. U. lactuca was found to be the best candidate to be used as a bio-fertilizer to improve canola growth, yield, and salt stress tolerance.

Morphological and molecular studies on Gelidiaceae and Gelidiellaceae (Gelidiales, Rhodophyta) from Brazil with description of the new species Gelidium calidum

Because of phenotypic plasticity, undefined specific boundaries, and specimens that are rarely fertile, species recognition in Gelidiales has been extremely difficult and controversial. Fifteen species of Gelidiellaceae and Gelidiaceae have been reported in Brazil with the majority in regional floristic studies or species lists. Thus, Gelidiales species have not received enough attention in Brazil, and many taxonomic problems remain unresolved. In this study, an integrative systematic approach based on the morphology of the vegetative and reproductive structures and two molecular markers, cox1 and rbcL, was used for 54 samples collected along the Brazilian coast. Five Gelidiaceae, including Gelidium crinale, G. floridanum, G. lineare, G. microdonticum and a new species here proposed as G. calidum, were found. The occurrence of Gelidiella acerosa, Ge. flabella, Millerella myrioclada, and two undescribed species, Gelidiella sp. and Millerella sp. were confirmed in Gelidiellaceae. Gelidiaceae and Gelidiellaceae species could be distinguished from each other by molecular and morphological approaches, except for Gelidium crinale and the new species, G. calidum, which were distinguished only by molecular data.

Lipid metabolism and potentials of biofuel and high added-value oil production in red algae

Biomass production is currently explored in microalgae, macroalgae and land plants. Microalgal biofuel development has been performed mostly in green algae. In the Japanese tradition, macrophytic red algae such as Pyropia yezoensis and Gelidium crinale have been utilized as food and industrial materials. Researches on the utilization of unicellular red microalgae such as Cyanidioschyzon merolae and Porphyridium purpureum started only quite recently. Red algae have relatively large plastid genomes harboring more than 200 protein-coding genes that support the biosynthetic capacity of the plastid. Engineering the plastid genome is a unique potential of red microalgae. In addition, large-scale growth facilities of P. purpureum have been developed for industrial production of biofuels. C. merolae has been studied as a model alga for cell and molecular biological analyses with its completely determined genomes and transformation techniques. Its acidic and warm habitat makes it easy to grow this alga axenically in large scales. Its potential as a biofuel producer is recently documented under nitrogen-limited conditions. Metabolic pathways of the accumulation of starch and triacylglycerol and the enzymes involved therein are being elucidated. Engineering these regulatory mechanisms will open a possibility of exploiting the full capability of production of biofuel and high added-value oil. In the present review, we will describe the characteristics and potential of these algae as biotechnological seeds.

DNA barcoding reveals high diversity in the Gelidiales of the Brazilian southeast coast

Abstract Morphological identification of species in the order Gelidiales can be difficult and controversial because of phenotypic plasticity, the low numbers of reproductive specimens and poorly defined taxonomic boundaries. A DNA barcoding survey of Brazilian specimens of Gelidiales, employing neighbor-joining and Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery analyses, indicated the presence of 23 statistically robust primary species hypotheses (PSH). In addition to the cytochrome oxidase I gene (COI-5P), the chloroplast universal plastid amplicon (UPA) marker was also sequenced and submitted to the same analyses. Representatives of each COI-5P/UPA PSH were selected for rbcL sequence analysis to further corroborate the occurrence of 23 species and to infer their phylogenetic relationships. These analyses confirmed the identity of six species previously cited for Brazil: Gelidiella acerosa, G. ligulata, Gelidium crinale, G. floridanum, Pterocladiella bartlettii and P. capillacea. Three new reports for Brazil were also detected: Gelidium microdonticum, Pterocladiella beachiae and P. australafricanensis. Fourteen species remain unidentified and require detailed morphological evaluation.

Assessment of alternative sources of seaweed polysaccharides in Argentina: potentials of the agarophyte Gelidium crinale (Hare ex Turner) Gaillon (Rhodophyta, Gelidiales)

The phycocolloids industry in Argentina has been based on the importation of non-native species and the exploitation of natural populations of Gracilaria, which are currently declining. This study was carried out to evaluate the potential of Gelidium crinale as an unexploited source of agar in this country. The yield and composition of polysaccharides extracted from G. crinale, as well as the growth potential of this species were studied. In vitro cultures of apical sections were carried out; relative growth rates (RGR) and data were analyzed through repeated measurements. Explants rapidly duplicated their initial size, producing numerous proliferations and achieving structural complexity. RGR of explants, primary proliferations, and secondary proliferations were high and similar. Polysaccharide extraction was done under three conditions: acid pre-extraction treatment + pressure boiled (AP), water pre-extraction treatment + pressure boiled (WP), and water pre-extraction treatment + boiled (WB). Polysaccharides were characterized through infrared spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence, thermogravimetric, and elemental analysis. Polysaccharides obtained corresponded to the agar-type, and showed high similarity to commercial agar samples, with low sulfate and methyl contents. Higher yields were obtained with pressure extractions; however, acid treatment did not increase the amount of extracted biopolymers. Their degradation occurred in the range 250–400 °C. Polysaccharides obtained under AP conditions had a degradation curve similar to food-grade agar-agar, whereas degradation curves of polysaccharides obtained without acid treatment were similar to biotechnology-grade agar-agar. According to the results, G. crinale from Anegada Bay produces a high-quality agar to be considered for the Argentinean agar industry; however, micropropagation techniques would be indispensable to increase its bioavailability.

Seaweeds from Sand-Covered Rocks of the Atlantic Iberian Peninsula. Part 2. Palmariales, Ceramiales (Excluding Rhodomelaceae), Gelidiales, Gigartinales, Plocamiales, Rhodymeniales and Scytothamnales

Abstract This work presents a taxonomic, floristic and chorological account of the most representative turf-forming species from sand-covered rocks along the Atlantic Iberian Peninsula, including in this Part 2 species belonging to six orders of the Rhodophyta and one of the Phaeophyceae. For each species are provided morphological descriptions, distribution maps, and/or COI-5P sequences, as well as taxonomic notes. The species studied are: Rhodothamniella floridula, Ceramium ciliatum, Erythroglossum lusitanicum, Hypoglossum hypoglossoides, Ptilothamnion sphaericum, Spermothamnion repens, Tiffaniella capitata, Gelidium crinale, G. spathulatum, Pterocladiella melanoidea, Calliblepharis hypneoides, Gymnogongrus griffithsiae, Plocamium maggsiae, Gastroclonium reflexum and Bachelotia antillarum.

Distribution of heavy metals in seaweeds collected along Marsa-Matrouh beaches, Egyptian Mediterranean Sea

The distribution of Cd, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, and Zn concentration in two seagrass species in addition to six species of marine macro algae: Cystoseira sp., Gelidium crinale, Laurencia obtusa, Gracilaria verrucosa, Jania rubens, and Enteromorpha compressa collected along Marsa-Matrouh coastal waters (Egypt) were determined by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. The recovery study was carried out using a certified reference material NMIJ CRM 7405-a. The obtained heavy metal contents indicated that different species demonstrated various degrees of metal accumulation. In general, El-Boussit station recorded the highest concentrations among the all studied stations. There was a positive correlation between Fe concentrations in the seaweeds and those of Cu and Pb indicated the same source of these metals and/or synergistic interaction between these metals. In general, as regards the influence of the collection sites on the whole metal accumulation, El-Boussit is considered to be the most polluted. There was a positive correlation between Fe concentrations in the seaweeds and those of the Cu and Pb, in addition to negative correlations between Cu and Ni, Pb and Zn. On the basis of the levels of trace elements observed in Posidonia oceanica and Cymodocea nodosa besides their wide distribution in Marsa-Matrouh beaches; these two species are considered to be good bio-indicators for metals in the area of investigation.

Taxonomy and distribution of selected species of the agarophyte genus Gelidium (Gelidiales, Rhodophyta)

Although the diverse uses of Gelidium as food and in the production of agar and paper pulp have increased research interest in this genus, the taxonomy and biogeography of several species of Gelidium remain largely unstudied. We conducted phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial cox1 and plastid rbcL sequences of selected species of Gelidium. The data revealed that Gelidium allanii, Gelidium johnstonii, and Gelidium koshikianum, species that share a similar morphology, formed a monophyletic clade with a wide distribution around the Pacific rim. Because G. johnstonii Setchell & Gardner has nomenclatural priority over G. allanii V.J. Chapman and G. koshikianum Shimada et al., we synonymize the latter two species with the former. Based on the extremely low genetic divergences (0.0–0.2 % for rbcL and 0.0–0.4 % for cox1) between Korean and Mexican specimens of G. johnstonii and its sister relationship with Asian species, we consider that G. johnstonii may have been recently dispersed by anthropogenic agents. The New Zealand endemic Gelidium longipes and Gelidium crinale from Australia were compared with both rbcL and cox1, and were found to be identical. Although the transfer of G. logipes to G. crinale is necessary, the Australasian group within G. crinale is separated from other populations of the species, and we therefore recognize it as a subspecies. Biogeography of Gelidium on the basis of rbcL phylogeny of the 59 Gelidium species is briefly discussed.

The turf-forming alga Gelidium crinale (Florideophyceae, Rhodophyta) on Atlantic Patagonian coasts

Abstract We describe for the first time the morphology of Gelidium crinale from its natural habitat in Atlantic Patagonia with special consideration of diagnostic characters. Observations and morphometric measurements were done on fresh specimens using scanning electron and inverted light microscopy. This report is a new record for Atlantic Patagonian coasts. The thalli comprise prostrate and erect axes; they are subterete at the base and compressed to flattened at the apices. The basal parts are scarcely and irregularly branched, while the apical parts are highly ramified and subdichotomously branched. The lengths of thalli and the ramification patterns differ from previous descriptions, and were variable between seasons and life history phases. “Brush-like” haptera confirmed the identity of the algae as members of the Gelidiaceae. Internal rhizoidal filaments are abundant and distributed in groups throughout the medulla. The life history was of the “Polysiphonia-type”; occurrences of carposporophytes and tetrasporophytes were variable.

Phylogenetic relationships and distribution of Gelidium crinale and G. pusillum (Gelidiales, Rhodophyta) using cox1 and rbcL sequences

The taxonomic distinctiveness and cosmopolitan distributions of the red algae and remain unclear. Both species were first described in Devon in southwestern England; namely in Ilfracome for and Sidmouth for . We analyzed mitochondrial 1 and plastid L sequences from specimens collected in East Asia, Australia, Europe and North America. In all phylogenetic analyses of 1 and L sequences, was distinct from congeners of the genus. The analyses also revealed a sister relationship with the and clade. Nineteen 1 haplotypes were identified for , and they were likely geographically structured. Despite the distinctiveness in both 1 and L datasets, the sister relationship of in the genus was not resolved. Our 1 and L datasets indicate that is a cosmopolitan species, found in East Asia, Australia, Europe and North America, while the distribution of is restricted to Europe and Atlantic North America. Our results suggest that infraspecific classification of may be abandoned.