Fottea 12(2): 231-253, 2012 | DOI: 10.5507/fot.2012.017

Genotypic diversity of Dictyosphaerium-morphospecies (Chlorellaceae, Trebouxiophyceae) in African inland waters, including the description of four new genera.

Lothar Krienitz*,1, Christina Bock1,2, Kiplagat Kotut3, Thomas Pröschold4,5
1 Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Alte Fischerhütte 2, D-16775 Stechlin-Neuglobsow, Germany
2 University of Essen, Faculty of Biology, D-45141 Essen, Germany
3 Plant and Microbial Sciences Department of Kenyatta University Nairobi, PO Box 43844 GPO 00100 Nairobi, Kenya
4 University of Vienna, Department of Limnology, Althanstr. 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria
5 University of Rostock, Department of Applied Ecology, Albert-Einstein-Str. 3, D-18059 Rostock, Germany

Trebouxiophytes of the Dictyosphaerium-morphotype from inland waters of Africa were studied using a polyphasic approach of SSU and ITS rDNA phylogeny, secondary structure of the ITS and observations made with a light microscope. Although the morphological criteria for differentiating species and genera are scarce, the genetic diversity of these algae was very high. Based on our genetic analysis findings, we described four new genera containing five new species: Compactochlorella dohrmannii, Compactochlorella kochii, Kalenjinia gelatinosa, Marasphaerium gattermannii and Masaia oloidia. Diversity and distribution of Chlorella-related colonial chlorophytes in the tropical and temperate zones were compared and discussed.

Keywords: Inland waters of Africa, Chlorella, Compactochlorella nov. gen., Dictyosphaerium, diversity, geographic distribution, green algae, Kalenjinia nov. gen., Marasphaerium nov. gen., Masaia nov. gen.

Received: June 6, 2011; Accepted: October 10, 2011; Published: September 1, 2012Show citation

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Krienitz, L., Bock, C., Kotut, K., & Pröschold, T. (2012). Genotypic diversity of Dictyosphaerium-morphospecies (Chlorellaceae, Trebouxiophyceae) in African inland waters, including the description of four new genera. Fottea12(2), 231-253. doi: 10.5507/fot.2012.017
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