A new preferentially outcrossing monoicous species of Volvox sect. Volvox (Chlorophyta) from Thailand

Hisayoshi Nozaki; Wuttipong Mahakham; Wirawan Heman; Ryo Matsuzaki; Masanobu Kawachi

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0235622

A new preferentially outcrossing monoicous species of Volvox sect. Volvox (Chlorophyta) from Thailand

PLoS One. 2020 Jul 2;15(7):e0235622. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0235622. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Hisayoshi Nozaki¹, Wuttipong Mahakham², Wirawan Heman³, Ryo Matsuzaki^{4

5}, Masanobu Kawachi⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
² Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
³ Department of Science and Mathematics, Faculty of Science and Health Technology, Kalasin University, Thailand.
⁴ Center for Environmental Biology and Ecosystem Studies, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
⁵ Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.

Abstract

Volvox sect. Volvox is an interesting group of green algae; it comprises mostly monoicous species, but evidence suggests an evolution towards dioicy. Based on cultured strains originating from Thailand, we describe Volvox longispiniferus, a novel species in Volvox sect. Volvox. This species is distinguished from others in the section by the large number of sperm packets in its monoicous sexual spheroids and by the long spines on its zygote wall. Phylogenetic analyses indicate that V. longispiniferus is distinct from the other species of two monophyletic groups within Volvox sect. Volvox. In addition, the novel species produces more zygotes when different cultures are combined compared with a single culture, suggesting a preference for outcrossing.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Chloroplasts / genetics
DNA, Ribosomal / classification
DNA, Ribosomal / genetics
Photosystem II Protein Complex / genetics
Phylogeny
Ribulose-Bisphosphate Carboxylase / classification
Ribulose-Bisphosphate Carboxylase / genetics
Thailand
Volvox / classification*
Volvox / genetics

Substances

DNA, Ribosomal
Photosystem II Protein Complex
RbcL protein, plastid
Ribulose-Bisphosphate Carboxylase

Grants and funding

This study was supported by a Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (grant numbers 16H02518 for HN and 19K22446 for HN) from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)/Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) KAKENHI (https://www.jsps.go.jp/english/e-grants/), and the Applied Taxonomic Research Center (grant number: ATRC KKUR6309; http://atrc.sc.kku.ac.th/), Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Khon Kaen University. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.