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(American Journal of Botany. 2006;93:1101-1108.)
© 2006 Botanical Society of America, Inc.

Phycology

Assessing the use of the mitochondrial cox1 marker for use in DNA barcoding of red algae (Rhodophyta)1

Lavinia Robba, Stephen J. Russell, Gary L. Barker and Juliet Brodie2

2Department of Botany, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK; 3School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Woodland Road, Bristol BS8 1UG, UK

ABSTRACT

The red algae, a remarkably diverse group of organisms, are difficult to identify using morphology alone. Following the proposal to use the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (cox1) for DNA barcoding animals, we assessed the use of this gene in the identification of red algae using 48 samples plus 31 sequences obtained from GenBank. The data set spanned six orders of red algae: the Bangiales, Ceramiales, Corallinales, Gigartinales, Gracilariales and Rhodymeniales. The results indicated that species could be discriminated. Intraspecific variation was between 0 and 4 bp over 539 bp analyzed except in Mastocarpus stellatus (0–14 bp) and Gracilaria gracilis (0–11 bp). Cryptic diversity was found in Bangia fuscopurpurea, Corallina officinalis, G. gracilis, M. stellatus, Porphyra leucosticta and P. umbilicalis. Interspecific variation across all taxa was between 28 and 148 bp, except for G. gracilis and M. stellatus. A comparison of cox1 with the plastid Rubisco spacer for Porphyra species revealed that it was a more sensitive marker in revealing incipient speciation and cryptic diversity. The cox1 gene has the potential to be used for DNA barcoding of red algae, although a good taxonomic foundation coupled with extensive sampling of taxa is essential for the development of an effective identification system.

Key Words: cytochrome c oxidase subunit I • DNA barcoding • species identification • red algae • Rubisco spacer






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