Cd. Neefus et al., AN EXAMINATION OF THE POPULATION-GENETICS OF LAMINARIA AND OTHER BROWN-ALGAE IN THE LAMINARIALES USING STARCH-GEL ELECTROPHORESIS, Hydrobiologia, 261, 1993, pp. 67-79
While some investigators have attempted to use isozyme electrophoresis
to gain information on the genetics of brown algae, most have reporte
d unsatisfactory results. Through exhaustive screening and modificatio
n of sample preparation techniques, gel and tray buffers systems, plus
staining recipes, we have developed procedures that consistently prov
ide scorable bands for over 20 enzyme systems in several laminarian al
gae. We have used our procedures to examine geographically diverse pop
ulations of Laminaria saccharina and L. longicruris, as well as L. dig
itata, L. groenlandica, Agarum cribrosum, Alaria esculenta, Chorda tom
entosa, and Macrocystis pyrifera. Overall, these kelp species seem to
have an extremely low degree of enzyme polymorphism, both within and b
etween populations. While some 'rare alleles' occurred in several enzy
me systems, only 3-5 loci were found to be polymorphic. Our results ar
e consistent with the few reported studies that have used molecular ge
netic techniques to look at the intraspecific variability of laminaria
n algae. We suggest that at the species level the Laminariales, and pe
rhaps other groups of brown algae, are genetically extremely conservat
ive as compared to other divisions of plants. We further suggest that
isozyme electrophoresis provides a quick and useful tool for algal pop
ulation genetic studies.