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Recent approaches to the taxonomy of the Gracilariaceae (Gracilariales, Rhodophyta) and the Gracilaria verrucosa problem

  • Conference paper
Thirteenth International Seaweed Symposium

Part of the book series: Developments in Hydrobiology ((DIHY,volume 58))

Abstract

Recognition of species in the Gracilariaceae, often notoriously difficult, is being aided by a combination of classical and modern techniques. We review some recent findings and present new results that may lead to redefinition of Gracilaria verrucosa, the type species of its genus. Plastid DNA restriction profiles (patterns of banding obtained by electrophoresis of DNA after restriction endonuclease digestion) from eleven strains ascribed to G. verrucosa indicated that the concept of this species in northern Europe includes possibly three taxa, one of which is known now to be a species of Gracilariopsis. In contrast, restriction profiles from Argentinian and Japanese strains were closely similar to the predominant pattern for European G. verrucosa. Profiles of several other strains, from the western Atlantic and eastern Pacific, were dissimilar to the European group and to each other. A chromosome number of n = 24 was determined for a representative of the predominant European group, and preliminary results of hybridization trials suggest that these strains, and others with approximately the same plastid DNA restriction pattern, are interfertile.

NRCC 30559

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  1. E. L. Rice

    Present address: Biological Sciences Branch, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Halifax Fisheries Research Laboratory, P.O. Box 550, Halifax, N.S., B3J 2S7, Canada

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  1. National Research Council of Canada, 1411 Oxford St., Halifax, N.S., B3H 3Z1, Canada

    C. J. Bird & E. L. Rice

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  1. Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, #3529-6270 University Blvd, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6T 2B1

    Sandra C. Lindstrom  & Paul W. Gabrielson  & 

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Bird, C.J., Rice, E.L. (1990). Recent approaches to the taxonomy of the Gracilariaceae (Gracilariales, Rhodophyta) and the Gracilaria verrucosa problem. In: Lindstrom, S.C., Gabrielson, P.W. (eds) Thirteenth International Seaweed Symposium. Developments in Hydrobiology, vol 58. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-2049-1_16

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-2049-1_16

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