Polyphasic studies on exiccata: phylogenetic evaluation of botanical type materials from historical Herbaria for cyanobacteria
Final Report Abstract
For the first time, we have applied polyphasic taxonomy integrating genotypic and phenotypic characterisations to exsiccate cyanobacteria belonging to the different cyanobacterial genera: unicellular, filamentous, non-heterocystous, as well as filamentous heterocystous cyanobacteria originating from different places all over the worid. The results of the multiple 16S rRNA and nifH, sequence analyses completed during our studies showed that historical herbaria are useful for modern taxonomic and biodiversity studies. This work documented (1) that exsiccata collections represent a valid and valuable repository of genetic as well as morphotypic information, (2) That early phycologists were accurate in morphotypic identification of cyanobacteria and (3) that microbiological and botanical treatment of cyanobacterial systematics are reconcilable using modern molecular sequence analysis as an independent arbiter. Outcome: Successful application of molecular tools as well as morphological and morphometrie analyses to specimens in herbarium exsiccata collections. - Data provided a useful matrix within which the phylogenetic relations were reconstructed. - In the process of this project, new methods have been applied to improve the curation of precious rare specimens. To that affect, the collections used were digitized and provided with permanent preparations open to future examinations without affecting the original materials. Photo-documentation together with molecular data will be given to collections for their information and future usage. - Results facilitated a consolidation of the systematic treatment of cyanobacteria which are currently ruled by two different taxonomic guidelines and codes, the Botanical and Bacteriological Codes of Nomenclature. - It was tested for the first time whether and to what degree do microorganisms identified by phenotypic characters correspond to the same genotype as traditionally assumed. - Validation of exsiccata as taxonomic reference source for cyanobacteria, and their coordination with the Bacteriological reference, which is based on axenic type cultures. - Molecular data from exsiccata can be used as references in phylogenetic and taxonomic relationships. - Ecological data cannot be neglected in defining species. lt was kind of irritating that preservation state of examined exsiccate (cell wall as well as ultrastructures) does not correlate with the state of the DNA. In the course of this study we successfully isolated and amplified DNA from the type specimens of Blennothrix vermicularis Kützing, however, material was visibly damaged. We could not perform any morphological characterisation of this specimen and did not find any intact cell or filament. Although DNA extraction as well as direct whole cell amplification from disrupted cells resulted in aprox. 500bp good quality sequence. Nostoc muscorum WU 88 isolated in 1886 by A. Hansgirg forming macroscopic colonies with trichomes embedded in compact layers of extracellular polysaccharide substances, showed a remariobly strong auto-fluorescence indicating that pigments remained preserved in a significant proportion of trichomes. It gave us a hint that some portion of the sample might be still active. After two months of incubation in the 1:10 diluted BG11 medium Nostoc muscorum WU 88 started to reproduce and grow.
Publications
- (2006) Common evolutionary origin of planktonic & benthic nitrogen-fixing oscillatoriacean cyanobacteria from tropical oceans. FEMS Microb. Lett. 260: 171-177
Abed RM, Palinska KA, Camoin G, Golubic S
- (2006) Phylogenetic evaluation of cyanobacteria preserved as historic herbarium exsiccata IJSEM. 56: 2253-2263
Palinska KA, Thomasius CF, Marquardt J, Golubic S
- (2006): Phylogenetic evaluation of cyanobacteria preserved as historic herbanum exsiccata. lnternational Symposium on Phototrophic Prokaryotes (ISPP) Peau, France
Palinska KA, Thomasius CF, Marquardt J, Golubic S
- (2007).: Phylogenetic evaluation of cyanobacteria preserved as historic herbarium exsiccate. 17th International Symposium of the Association of Cyanophyta Research, Merida, Mexico
Palinska KA, Thomasius CF, Marquardt J, Golubic S
- (2007): Species concept in Cyanobacteria. 17th International Symposium of the Association of Cyanophyta Research, Merida, Mexico
Golubic S, Palinska KA
- (2008) Microbial communities in Messinian evaporite deposits of the Vena del Gesso. Stratigraphy 5: 347-356
Panieri G, Palinska KA, Lugli S, Manzi V, Roveri M
- (2008): Diversity of marine benthic Cyanobacteria: environmental responses and hazards. Symposium on tropical, marine Cyanobacteria; Noumea, New Caledonia
Golubic S, Palinska KA, and Abed RM
- (2010) Ribosomal RNA gene fragments from fossilized cyanobacteria identified in primary gypsum from the late miocene, Italy. Geobiology 8: 101-111
Panieri G, Lugli S, Manzi V, Roveri M, Schreiber BC and Palinska KA
- (2010): Evaporites as effective seal for ancient biologic materials: Evidence from Messinian (6 Ma) primary selenite. 15th Evolutionary Biology Meeting, Marseille, France
Panieri G and Palinska KA
- (2010): Evidence of life from gypsum crystals dating back to 5.910-5.816 million years ago - recovery of cyanobacterial 16S ribosomal RNA gene fragments. 15th Evolutionary Biology Meeting, Marseille, France
Palinska KA and Panieri G
- (2010): Recent and ancient populations (exsiccata) of cyanobacteria: a comparison. 18th International Symposium of the Association of Cyanophyta Research, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
Palinska KA, Hariri K, and Golubic S
