Morphological and Phylogenetic Analysis of Prorocentrum micans Isolated from the Beibu Gulf

Abstract:

The aim was to understand morphological characteristics and phylogenetic evolution significant of Prorocentrum micans. The morphological characters of P. micans BBW-01strain, isolated from Beibu Gulf of Guangxi Province, was described under light microscopy, and phylogenetic evolution relationship was studied on the basis of molecular sequences. The morphological characters of different geographical P. micans tested in this study were similar, except of the range of cell size. The morphology of P. micans BBW-01 was more close to that isolated from Daya bay of Guangdong Province. Seven big pores arranged symmetrically with V-shape at the posterior end could be an important indicator of identification of P. micans. Homologous Blast and system evolution analysis on the basis of 18S rDNA sequence showed that P. micans BBW-01 had close relation with P. micans (DQ004735), and clustered together with two other P. micans, belonging to planktonic or facultative planktonic Prorocentrum. Therefore, the precise identification of the causative species was helpful to prevent and reduce the harm of red tide on marine environment and human beings.

Key words:Prorocentrum micans;Morphological characteristics;Molecular phylogeny;Beibu Gulf