MOLECULAR PHYLOGENY OF GRACILARIACEAE (RHODOPHYTA) IN SOUTHERN COAST OF IRAN

In this study a total of 49 species (76 sequence accessions) representing 42 species of Gracilaria nd 3 species of Gracilariopsis plus 2 species of Hypnea, 1 species of Sarconema and 1 species of Soleria as outgroups were investigated in a phylogenetic analysis using rbcL and spacer and a l art of rbcS sequences with maximum parsimony method. The study revealed that the Iranian racilaria species appeared in 4 clade (5 species in Gracilaria sensu stricto and 2 species in pontia). On the basis of molecular data,specific identity of Gracilaria corticata, G. arcuata, G. salicornia d G. textorii were confirmed. According to the present phylogenic data, name of “G. armata” is changed to “G. arcuata” and it is necessary to revise the specific identity of G.canaliculata, which has been introduced from Iran.Finally according to these data Gracilaria sp.introduced from Iran is close to G. canaliculata. The uence analysis of four accessions G.corticata showed that they are completely identical in spite of that they are morphologically a little different.