Phylogenetic insights into chroococcus-like taxa (Chroococcales, Cyanobacteria), describing Cryptochroococcus tibeticus gen. nov. sp. nov. and Limnococcus fonticola sp. nov. from Qinghai-Tibet plateau

J Phycol. 2021 Dec;57(6):1739-1748. doi: 10.1111/jpy.13205. Epub 2021 Aug 27.

Abstract

Several coccoid cyanobacterial strains, morphologically similar to typical characteristics of Chroococcus, from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau were isolated and characterized using a polyphasic approach including morphological and molecular information. Morphological characteristics, the phylogeny based on 16S rRNA gene, and 16S-23S internal transcribed spacer secondary structures support establishing a novel Chroococcus-like genus, Cryptochroococcus gen. nov., as well as Limnococcus fonticola sp. nov. Limnococcus is phylogenetically included in Chroococcaceae and has irregularly arranged thylakoids. Therefore, it should no longer be a member of Merismopediaceae (Synechococcales). The phylogeny based on the 16S rRNA gene revealed that Chroococcus-associated genera were monophyletic.

Keywords: Chroococcus; 16S rRNA gene phylogeny; Chroococcales; Qinghai-Tibet Plateau; coccoid cyanobacteria.

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Typing Techniques
  • Cyanobacteria* / genetics
  • DNA, Bacterial
  • Fatty Acids
  • Phylogeny
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Tibet

Substances

  • DNA, Bacterial
  • Fatty Acids
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S

Associated data

  • RefSeq/MN215475
  • RefSeq/MN215488
  • RefSeq/MN215489
  • RefSeq/MN215490