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Systematics of marine brown alga Sargassum from Thailand: A preliminary study based on morphological data and nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) sequences

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Abstract

The marine brown algal genus Sargassum has been investigated extensively based on genetic information. In this report, we performed the first comparative study of morphological and molecular data among common species of Sargassum found in Thailand and explored the phylogenetic diversity within the genus. Our results revealed an incongruent pattern for species classification in Thai Sargassum. Morphologically, our Sargassum specimens were distinguishable and represented 8 species, namely, S. aquifolium (Turner) C.Agardh, Sargassum baccularia (Mertens) C. Agardh, S. cinereum J. Agardh, S. ilicifolium (Turner) C.Agardh, S. oligocystum Montagne, S. plagiophyllum C. Agardh, S. polycystum C. Agardh and S. swartzii (Turuner) C. Agardh. In contrast, using three different methods, phylogenetic analysis of nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) revealed six distinct clades, including S. baccularia/S. oligosyntum clade, S. aquifolium/S. swartzii clade, S. cinereum clade, S. aquifolium/S. ilicifolium clade, S. polycystum clade, and S. plagiophyllum clade, which was suggestive of a phenotypic plasticity species complex. Our molecular data also confirmed the paraphyletic relationship in the section Binderianae and suggested that this section requires reassessment. Overall, further studies are required to increase our understanding of the taxonomy, phylogenetic relationships and species boundaries among Sargassum species in Thailand.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, Chiba, 277-8564, Japan

    Attachai Kantachumpoo & Teruhisa Komatsu

  2. Department of Environmental Science, Faculty of Science, Niigata University, Niigata, 950-2181, Japan

    Shinya Uwai

  3. Institute of Marine Science, Burapha University, Bangsane, 20131, Chon Buri, Thailand

    Thidarat Noiraksar

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  1. Attachai Kantachumpoo
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  2. Shinya Uwai
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  3. Thidarat Noiraksar
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  4. Teruhisa Komatsu
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Correspondence to Attachai Kantachumpoo.

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Kantachumpoo, A., Uwai, S., Noiraksar, T. et al. Systematics of marine brown alga Sargassum from Thailand: A preliminary study based on morphological data and nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) sequences. Ocean Sci. J. 50, 251–262 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12601-015-0022-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12601-015-0022-4

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