European Journal of Phycology | 2021
A new species of the previously monotypic genus Iningainema (Cyanobacteria, Scytonemataceae) from the Western Ghats, India
Abstract
Abstract A novel cyanobacterial species from the genus Iningainema is described according to the International Code of Nomenclature for Algae, Fungi, and Plants. The new species, Iningainema sahyadrensis sp. nov., is recorded from the Western Ghats (Sahyadri mountain range), India. The description is based on morphological features and the phylogenetic analysis of partial 16S rDNA gene. Phylogenetic analysis places I. sahyadrensis in the Iningainema clade, within the family Scytonemataceae. The novel strain formed a strongly supported monophyletic lineage with strains of the type species of Iningainema, I. pulvinus. Laboratory-grown culture and the naturally occurring samples of I. sahyadrensis differed from the type species of the genus (I. pulvinus) by the size of vegetative cells, thickness of sheath, presence of vacuole-like structures in cells and habitat type. Comparison of predicted secondary structures of the partial 16S rRNA molecule of I. sahyadrensis and three clones of I. pulvinus showed a number of evolutionary events in Domain 1 (H8-H10, H17), Domain 2 (H21, H22) and Domain 3 (H33, H34). Amplification of a fragment of the ndaF gene involved in nodularin biosynthesis from I. sahyadrensis did not confirm that it has this genetic determinant, in contrast with I. pulvinus. The recognition and description of this novel species suggests that the cyanobacterial flora of mountain habitats of India has yet to be fully documented.