16S RDNA SEQUENCES AND PHYLOGENETIC ANALYSES OF MICROCYSTIS STRAINS WITH AND WITHOUT PHYCOERYTHRIN

Phylogenetic analyses were carried out on 15 strains of Microcystis, w ith five morphospecies and including two types of phycobilin pigment c omposition, by sequence determination of the 16S rDNA (16S rRNA gene). All the sequences showed high similarity, in some cases 100%, similar ity, between different morphospecies and phycobilin types. Derived phy logenetic trees revealed a close relationship between Microcystis stra ins with and without phycoerythrin. The data show that phenotypes of M icrocystis is do not necessarily reflect their phylogeny, and that the re is a need to reconstruct the present taxonomy at the species level. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.