Taxonomic revision of the genus Lobophora (Dictyotales, Phaeophyceae) based on morphological evidence and analyses rbcL and cox3 gene sequences

A taxonomic revision of Lobophora based on molecular phylogenetic analyses of rbcL, and cox3 gene sequences as well as anatomical observations was carried out, mostly based on specimens collected from eastern Asia and southeastern Australia. In the molecular phylogenetic analyses, nine major clades supported by high bootstrap values were recognized. In combination with evaluation of morphological characters, four clades were concluded to be new species. The Australian species L. australis sp. nov. possessed erect thalli with sporangial sori scattered on the ventral surface and had a closer phylogenetic relationship with another Australian species, L. nigrescens, but it was distinguished from the latter in having fewer layers of cortical cells and smaller sporangia. The Asian species L. crassa sp. nov., L. pachyventera sp. nov. and L. asiatica sp. nov. possessed decumbent thalli with sporangia scattered on the dorsal surface. Among the three prostrate species, L. crassa had a considerably thicker thallus with four to five cortical layers, L. asiatica had a thinner thallus with two cortical layers, and L. pachyventera differed from another two species by its three-layered ventral cortex and well-developed anchoring rhizoids.