Morphological and molecular characterization of Ulva chaugulii sp nov., U-lactuca and U-ohnoi (Ulvophyceae, Chlorophyta) from India

Detailed morphological, anatomical and molecular characteristics of Ulva on the west coast of India revealed the presence of U. chaugulii sp. nov. Ulva chaugulii is characterized by tubular, compressed and fragile thalli with infundibuliform shape, a dilated apex and the presence of two pyrenoids per cell. The molecular phylogeny based on the rbcL gene and internal transcribed spacer rDNA sequences support the recognition of a new lineage within Ulva. The present study also verifies the presence of U. ohnoi in western India. Ulva lactuca and U. ohnoi from India were resolved as separate lineages based on rbcL phylogeny. The genetic divergence between rbcL sequences of these two species was 0.4%.