Taxonomic Identification of Cyanobacteria by a Polyphasic Approach

Abstract

During the last two decades, genetic methods have significantly increased our understanding of the distribution of genes involved in the production of toxins within the phylum of cyanobacteria (e.g.

Freshwater phytoplankton diversity: models, drivers and implications for ecosystem properties

“…A consistent number of molecular typing methods based on gel electrophoresis and a variety of other approaches (e.g. quantitative PCR-qPCR) have been applied since the 1980 s and 1990 s in the analysis of microbial DNA, including ''phytoplankton'' (for a review, see Wilmotte et al, 2017). These approaches are tuned to target common regions of the whole genomic DNA extracted from water samples or other substrata, providing information on the existence of specific taxonomic and toxins encoding genes (Campo et al, 2013;Capelli et al, 2018), and the taxonomic composition of the algal community without the need to isolate and cultivate individual strains.…”

“…Conversely, in addition to being time-consuming, the correct identification of specimens by LM requires a deep knowledge of algal taxonomy. Further, many taxa have overlapping morphological features so that the number of diacritical elements often is not enough to discriminate with certainty different species (Krienitz & Bock, 2012;Whitton & Potts, 2012;Wilmotte et al, 2017). The identification can be further complicated by the plasticity that characterise a number of phenotypic characteristics and their dependence from environmental conditions (Komárek & Komárková, 2003;Morabito et al, 2007;Hodoki et al, 2013;Soares et al, 2013).…”

“…A potential issue with the single use of only microscopy or genetic methods is due to the existence of genetically almost identical different morphotypes and to the development of uncommon morphological characteristics in strains cultivated and maintained in controlled culture conditions. To solve these problems, a polyphasic approach has been proposed, which makes use of a set of complementary methods, based besides genetics, on the analysis of phenotypic traits, physiology, ecology, metabolomics and other characters relevant for the identification of species of different phyla (Vandamme et al, 1996;Komárek, 2016;Salmaso et al, 2017;Wilmotte et al, 2017).…”

Diversity of the genus Brasilonema (Nostocales, Cyanobacteria) in plant nurseries of central Florida (USA) with the description of three new species: B. fioreae sp. nov., B. santannae sp. nov. and B. wernerae sp. nov.

“…Combining classical morphology and modern molecular scrutiny (polyphasic approach) is a powerful tool to delimitate cyanobacteria, especially those with cryptic tendencies, and is essential in describing cyanobacterial taxa (Komárek 2016;Wilmotte et al 2017;Dvořák et al 2018). During a study on the diversity and management of nuisance algae and cyanobacteria in greenhouses of central Florida, several Brasilonema-like species were observed.…”

The occurrence of Affixifilum gen. nov. and Neolyngbya (Oscillatoriaceae) in South Florida (USA), with the description of A. floridanum sp. nov. and N. biscaynensis sp. nov

“…The combination of molecular, ultrastructural, ecological, and morphological characteristics (polyphasic approach) has proven to be the most effective to delineate the cryptogenera found within Oscillatoriaceae (Komárek 2016, Wilmotte et al. 2017). In the past decade, there has been a push to better understand the diversity of the Lyngbya ‐like clades outside of temperate climates to resolve the cryptic diversity.…”