Pseudo-nitzschia kodamae sp. nov. (Bacillariophyceae), a toxigenic species from the Strait of Malacca, Malaysia
A recent field survey of Pseudo-nitzschia species from coastal waters of Malaysia demonstrated the presence of a novel morphotype, P. sp. Port Dickson, in the Strait of Malacca. In this study, we revisited the site and established five clonal cultures of this morphotype, assessed the strains’ morp...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier Ltd.
2014
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/13418/ http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/13418/1/Pseudo-nitzschia%20kodamae%20sp.%20nov.%20%28Bacillariophyceae%29%2C%20a%20toxigenic%20%28abstract%29.pdf |
| Summary: | A recent field survey of Pseudo-nitzschia species from coastal waters of Malaysia demonstrated the
presence of a novel morphotype, P. sp. Port Dickson, in the Strait of Malacca. In this study, we revisited
the site and established five clonal cultures of this morphotype, assessed the strains’ morphology and
genetics, and delineated it as a novel species. As observed by electron microscopy, these strains showed
morphological features identical to those of the previous field specimens designated as P. sp. Port
Dickson. The cells differ from other Pseudo-nitzschia species in the P. pseudodelicatissima complex sensu
lato by their lower densities of fibulae, striae and band striae in 10 mm. Molecular data of the nuclear
encoded large subunit ribosomal rRNA gene and the internal transcript spacer region (ITS) further
supported the delineation of this novel lineage. Based on both morphological and molecular data, P. sp.
Port Dickson is considered to represent a new species, for which we propose the name Pseudo-nitzschia
kodamae sp. nov. Production of domoic acid (DA) in the strains was examined by FMOC–LC–FLD. Only
strains of P. kodamae were observed with a peak corresponding to DA, giving a concentration of 1.2–
42.5 pg DA cell�1. Screening of Pseudo-nitzschia caciantha, Pseudo-nitzschia batesiana, Pseudo-nitzschia
fukuyoi and Pseudo-nitzschia lundholmiae cultures from the same waters, however, showed no detectable
DA. This is the first report of a potentially toxigenic Pseudo-nitzschia species from the region. |
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