Taxonomy of Grateloupia (Halymeniales, Rhodophyta) by DNA barcode marker analysis and a description of Pachymeniopsis volvita sp nov.

We applied DNA barcoding analysis to the red alga Grateloupia because it is one of the most complicated taxa in the family Halymeniaceae. We used two DNA barcoding markers, the 5' end of the cytochrome c oxidase I gene and the universal plastid amplicon of the 23S rRNA gene, to define levels of genetic diversity and species relationships within rbcL phylogeny. We detected nine species of Grateloupia, four species of Pachymeniopsis, and one Kintokiocolax in Korea: G. angusta, G. asiatica, G. catenata, G. divaricata, G. imbricata, G. jejuensis, G. kurogii, G. subpectinata, G. turuturu, P. elliptica, P. gargiuli, P. lanceolata, a new species, and K. aggregato-cerantha. The COI-5P barcode successfully differentiated species, with interspecific divergence values ranging between 3.7 and 14 %. Barcoding data provided a rapid and accurate methodology for species-level identification and for taxonomic explorations when used in combination with morphological data. We describe Pachymeniopsis volvita sp. nov. based on DNA barcoding analysis. Fourteen species detected in four different subclades with strong bootstrap support within rbcL phylogenetic tree.