A study of species diversity of Sarconema Zanardini, ۱۸۵۸ (red algae) in the southern coast of Iran

The marine alga genus Sarconema Zanardini (۱۸۵۸) is from family Solieriaceae, order Gigartinales belongs to the phylum Rhodophyta (red algae). This genus is economically important such as agar reproduction and application in the pharmaceutical and medical industries. This alga is found in tropical and subtropical area of Indian Ocean and south Pacific on the intertidal rocks and coralline stones, and one of its species is restricted to China, the western part the north Pacific. According to database of algae (Algaebase) three species for this genus have been accepted taxonomically. One species of this genus (Sarconema filiforme) has been introduced for algal flora of the south coasts of Iran, that identification of this species has been based on morphological characters and not based on anatomical characters. In order to study of this genus based on anatomical and morphological characters, samples were collected in several stations of Persian Gulf seashores from spring ۲۰۱۵ to autumn ۲۰۱۶. All samples were identified as S. filiforme. Based on cluster analysis of morphological and anatomical characters, the specimens of this species were groupted in three distinct categories that showing interaspecies variation in Sarconema filiforme. So, sometimes that may be interfered with species of genus closet to it, such as Solieria. DNA extraction was done with different method from various specimens of this species, but wasn’t obtained good quality of DNA for molecular studies. Molecular study via molecular markers is necessary for exact delimitation of this species. Therefore, more studies are necessary for pure DNA extraction from specimens of this species.

Keywords:

Sarconema , Morphology , Anatomy , Cluster analysis , Persian Gulf