Taxonomical Synonymy of Red Seaweed Gracilaria foliifera (Forsskal) Borgesen, 1932 with Gracilaria corticata J. Agardh, 1852 based on Multi-Local Phylogeny

Abstract

In this study, we assessed taxonomical position of Gracilaria corticata J. Agardh and Gracilaria foliifera (Forsskal) Borgesen collected from various locations along Indian coastline by combined morphological and multi-local molecular approaches. The species were indistinguishable based on morphological features which were previously claimed by various authors as diagnosing traits for the two species.These taxa were polyphyletic in our phylograms based either on chloroplast DNA rbcL-rbcS or mitochondrial DNA Cox2-3 spacer sequences. A clade consisting of Gracilaria corticata and Gracilaria foliifera was indeed monophyletic and strongly supported, resolving the conspecificity of these two taxa. Based on article 11 of ICN, the principle of taxonomic priority, the binomen Gracilaria corticata is valid and preferable. Gracilaria foliifera nomen rejiciendum is therefore a synonym of the valid binomen Gracilaria corticata.