Structural, morphological and genetic variability in Halophila stipulacea (Hydrocharitaceae) populations in the western Mediterranean

Procaccini, Gabriele; Acunto, Stefano; Famà, Patrizia; Maltagliati, Ferruccio

doi:10.1007/s002270050615

Cited by 56 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Subsequently, it has spread through the eastern Mediterranean to the western basin, reaching south-west Italy (Biliotti & Abdelahad, 1990;Cancemi et al, 1994;Procaccini et al, 1999;Gambi et al, 2009) and north-eastern Tunisia (Sghaier et al, 2011). However, prior to this study it has been reported only once in association with a phytomyxid in the Mediterranean (Marziano et al, 1995).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 68%

Rare phytomyxid infection on the alien seagrass Halophila stipulacea in the southeast Aegean Sea

et al. 2017

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Phytomyxids (Phytomyxea) are obligate endosymbionts of many organisms such as algae, diatoms, oomycetes and higher plants including seagrasses. Despite their supposed significant roles in the marine ecosystem, our knowledge of their marine diversity and distribution as well as their life cycles is very limited. Here we describe anatomy and morphology of several developmental stages of a phytomyxid symbiosis recently discovered on the petioles of the alien seagrass Halophila stipulacea (Forssk.) Asch. at a locality in the southeast Aegean Sea. Its earliest whitish stages appeared already on the youngest leaves at the apex of the newly formed rhizomes. The infected host cells grew in volume being filled with plasmodia which resulted in the formation of characteristic macroscopic galls. The plasmodia eventually cleaved into spores and in the final stage recorded by us, the dark brown to black galls contained mature resting spores often occurring in duplexes and possessing thick verrucous outer walls. Based on its anatomo-morphological features the phytomyxid was assigned as Plasmodiophora cf. halophilae. Little is so far known about the origins and eco-physiological functioning of this rare symbiosis. However, seemingly similar infection patterns were reported in 1913 on Halophila ovalis (R. Br.) Hook. f. from Java and in 1995 on H. stipulacea from Sicily. Since H. stipulacea is of the Indo-Pacific origin and no phytomyxid infection was observed on the co-occurring autochthonous seagrass Cymodocea nodosa, we hypothesize that its phytomyxid might have co-migrated into the Mediterranean through the Suez Canal, potentially reaching as far as the southern Ionian Sea.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 68%

Rare phytomyxid infection on the alien seagrass Halophila stipulacea in the southeast Aegean Sea

et al. 2017

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“…The present study suggests that the plasticity in the response to seasonal irradiance levels would allow for the successful acclimation to the different depths as observed throughout the year. This would then explain the dynamic seasonal meadow extensions as based on clonal growth, although H. stipulacea meadows were found to be highly polymorphic between depths in the Mediterranean (Procaccini et al 1999).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Photosynthetic responses of Halophila stipulacea to a light gradient. II. Acclimations following transplantation

et al. 2009

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“…In Fiji and Western Samoa, Halophila plants that differed in leaf structure (i.e., smooth versus bullate) had identical isozyme patterns for five enzyme systems; however, differences in isozymes indicating genetic variation were seen in between-island comparisons of plants (McMillan and Bridges 1982). Similarly, Sicilian populations of H. stipulacea (Forsskal) Ascherson exhibited both significant morphological variations with depth and collection location, and high genetic polymorphism between sample sites and among depths (Procaccini et al 1999). Al- :5 6: 7 e 9 '10 1'1 12 1;9.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Morphological and Genetic Variation in the Endemic Sea Grass Halophila hawaiiana (Hydrocharitaceae) in the Hawaiian Archipelago

McDermid¹,

Gregoritza²,

Reeves³

et al. 2003

Pacific Science

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Abstract:The endemic seagrass Halophila hawaiiana Doty & Stone is fOWld in discrete populations throughout the Hawaiian Archipelago. Morphological characteristics of plants from Midway Atoll, Pearl and Hermes Reef, Kaua'i, O'ahu, Moloka'i, and Maui were measured and compared. Striking variation in leaf length, leaf width, leaf length to width ratio, and internode length was evident among the 18 collection sites sampled at depths ranging from 0.32 to 18 m. DNA sequence analyses of a chloroplast-genome, single-base repeat locus in ramets from nine different collections found only two repeat haplotypes. Repeat haplotypes were fixed at all collection sites and for all islands except O'ahu. Kaua'i, O'ahu, Moloka'i, and Maui. Herbert (1984, 1986) studied the growth dynamics of one population of H. hawaiiana; estimated biomass, productivity, and turnover; and developed a growth model. High productivity levels were observed and applied to a hypothesis about the pioneer-type successional characteristics

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Structural, morphological and genetic variability in Halophila stipulacea (Hydrocharitaceae) populations in the western Mediterranean

Cited by 56 publications

References 20 publications

Rare phytomyxid infection on the alien seagrass Halophila stipulacea in the southeast Aegean Sea

Rare phytomyxid infection on the alien seagrass Halophila stipulacea in the southeast Aegean Sea

Photosynthetic responses of Halophila stipulacea to a light gradient. II. Acclimations following transplantation

Morphological and Genetic Variation in the Endemic Sea Grass Halophila hawaiiana (Hydrocharitaceae) in the Hawaiian Archipelago

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