PCR AMPLIFICATION OF NUCLEAR AND PLASTID GENES FROM ALGAL HERBARIUM SPECIMENS AND ALGAL SPORES

Plastid and nuclear ribosomal genes were amplified from dried cystocar ps obtained from an 11-year-old herbarium specimen using simple, rapid , nontoxic, and inexpensive methods. Gonimoblast tissue, isolated from either dried or fresh red algal cystocarps, was ground using the poly valent, metal chelating resin Chelex 100. After boiling and centrifugi ng, the supernatant yielded enough DNA for 20 or more polymerase chain reactions. Using these methods, we also amplified plastid and nuclear genes from as few as two red algal spores. These methods should facil itate future studies of algal systematics, evolutionary biogeography, and phylogeny as well as studies of algal dispersal patterns and popul ation biology.