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Issue: Vol. 741 No. 2: 13 Feb. 2026
Type: Article
Published: 2026-02-13
DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.741.2.5
Page range: 197-214
Abstract views: 17
PDF downloaded: 1

Polyphasic characterization of Aerosakkonema funiforme, Cephalothrix komarekiana, and the novel species Cephalothrix magna sp. nov. (Aerosakkonematales, Aerosakkonemataceae) from Malaysian freshwater ecosystems

Faculty of Resource Science and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Samarahan, 94300 Sarawak, Malaysia
Faculty of Resource Science and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Kota Samarahan, 94300 Sarawak, Malaysia
Bachok Marine Research Station, Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences, University of Malaya, Bachok, 16310 Kelantan, Malaysia
Bachok Marine Research Station, Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences, University of Malaya, Bachok, 16310 Kelantan, Malaysia
Bachok Marine Research Station, Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences, University of Malaya, Bachok, 16310 Kelantan, Malaysia
Cephalothrix magna compensatory base changes cyanobacteria 16S rRNA gene 16S–23S rRNA ITS secondary structure Sarawak Algae

Abstract

This study dealt with the taxonomy of filamentous cyanobacteria from Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia Borneo, by employing polyphasic approach. Seven strains were successfully isolated, and their morphology was examined microscopically, and their phylogenetic relationships were inferred using the 16S rRNA gene and 16S–23S rRNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) secondary structural information. The results revealed three species belonging to Aerosakkonemataceae, namely Aerosakkonema funiforme, Cephalothrix komarekiana, and a novel morphotype of Cephalothrix. The cell size of this undescribed morphotype was significantly larger than the known species of Cephalothrix. In the 16S rRNA gene and 16S–23S rRNA ITS phylogenetic trees, this morphotype formed a monophyletic clade with high bootstrap supports. Structural comparison of the 16S–23S rRNA ITS secondary structure showed compensatory base changes and single nucleotide polymorphisms between the new morphotype and the described species, C. komarekiana and C. lacustris. Based on the morphology and molecular characterization, we here propose Cephalothrix magna sp. nov., with the species epithet proposed under the International Code of Nomenclature (ICN) for Algae, Fungi, and Plants.

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How to Cite

Ong, Y.S., Teng, S.T., Hii, K.S., Leaw, C.P. & Lim, P.T. (2026) Polyphasic characterization of Aerosakkonema funiforme, Cephalothrix komarekiana, and the novel species Cephalothrix magna sp. nov. (Aerosakkonematales, Aerosakkonemataceae) from Malaysian freshwater ecosystems. Phytotaxa 741 (2): 197–214. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.741.2.5