Polysiphonia delicata Díaz-Tapia

Polysiphonia delicata Díaz-Tapia MOLECULAR IDENTIFICATION In total, 11 sequences have previously been published for Polysiphonia delicata from Spain and Australia, which represent two haplotypes, one found only in Australia and the other in both countries (Fig.2). The newly determined sequence for an English specimen was identical to sequences from Spain and Tasmania. Polysiphonia delicata was placed in the rbc L phylogeny in a highly supported clade with P.stricta (Mertens ex Dillwyn) Greville, the generitype, and eight other species. Polysiphonia delicata was sister to P. radiata Díaz-Tapia, but this relationship received low support (Fig. 2). Divergence between this pair of species was 4.1-4.2%. MORPHOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS Thalli forming discrete tufts, 2 cm high (Fig. 7A), pink in colour and flaccid in texture. Axes ecorticate, with four pericentral cells (Fig. 7B). Prostrate axes bearing unicellular rhizoids in open connection with the pericentral cells (Fig. 7C). Erect axes 80-120 µm in diameter, composed of segments 1.5-3.5 L/D. Trichoblasts absent. Plants dioecious. Mature cystocarps slightly urceolate, 430-650 µm high and 260-400 µm in diameter (Fig. 7D).
Published as part of Piñeiro-Corbeira, Cristina, Maggs, Christine A., Rindi, Fabio, Bunker, Francis, Baldock, Lin & Díaz-Tapia, Pilar, 2020, Molecular assessment of the tribes Streblocladieae and Polysiphonieae (Rhodomelaceae, Rhodophyta) in the British Isles reveals new records and species that require taxonomic revision, pp. 55-72 in Cryptogamie, Algologie 20 (8) on pages 62-63, DOI: 10.5252/cryptogamiealgologie2020v41a8, http://zenodo.org/record/7827761