Intersimple sequence repeats (ISSR) molecular markers to distinguish gametophytes of Batrachospermum boryanum (Batrachospermales, Rhodophyta)

Abstract

Genetic variability among individual gametophytes of a single population of Batrachospermum boryanum Sirodot was investigated using the relatively new molecular marker technique of intersimple sequence repeats (ISSR). Independent PCR amplifications with five individual primers yielded 57 distinct bands from 15 individuals. Each gametophyte was distinct in its overall banding pattern. Percent similarity between individuals ranged from 41 % to 82%, with most pairwise comparisons being between 60% to 80%. The neighbor-joining tree constructed from the data showed little population structure based on location from upstream to downstream. Interestingly, the individuals from the most upstream microsite were most closely related to the individuals from the furthest downstream microsite, suggesting either high gene flow or dispersal. TSSR molecular markers appear to be useful in distinguishing individual gametophytes within a population and may prove to be valuable in phylogeographic and other macroalgal studies.