Congracilaria Yamamoto, 1986

Holotype species: Congracilaria babae H.Yamamoto

Currently accepted name for the type species: Gracilaria babae (H.Yamamoto) P.-K. Ng, P.-E. Lim & S.-M. Phang

Original publication and holotype designation: Yamamoto, H. (1986). Congracilaria babae gen. et sp. nov. (Gracilariaceae), an adelphoparasite growing on Gracilaria salicornia of Japan. Bulletin of the Faculty of Fisheries Hokkaido University 37: 281-290.

Description: Plants form minute (to 3 mm high), yellowish-brown pustular outgrowths on Gracilaria salicornia (C. Agardh) Dawson, the endophytic portion being wholly pseudoparenchymatous and continuous with the subisodiametric cells of the host. No penetrating rhizoids or differentiated basal tissue are present, the parasite consisting of progressively smaller cells until an abrupt transition to the shallow cortex. Most plants are monoecious, and some also bear bisporangia. Procarp structure and cystocarp morphology are similar to Gracilaria, including the production of "tubular nutrient cells", although cystocarps are only slightly protuberant. Plants are monoecious, the spermatangia forming in deep, conceptacular cavities initiated by surface cell divisions. Bisporangia may occur as the only reproductive bodies on a plant, or rarely in conjunction with cystocarps. Each bispore contains two nuclei, presumably the result of meiosis.

Information kindly contributed by G.T. Kraft but may now be outdated.

Taxonomic status: This name is currently regarded as a synonym of Gracilaria.

Gender: This genus name is currently treated as feminine.

Most recent taxonomic treatment adopted: Lyra, D. de M., Iha, C., Grassa, C.J., Cai, L., Zhang, H.G., Lane, C., Blouin, N., Oliveira, M.C., Nunes, J. M de C. & Davis, C.C. (2021). Phylogenomics, divergence time estimation and trait evolution provide a new look into the Gracilariales (Rhodophyta). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 165(107294): [1-14], 4 figs.

Comments: This genus differs from Gracilariophila, the other parasitic member of the family, in possessing some pigmentation, lacking penetrating rhizoids, and in producing conceptacular, rather than superficial, spermatangial sori. Yamamoto forecasts that at least at least one Gracilariophila of Weber-van Bosse (1928) and one of Chang and Xia (1978) may represent undescribed gracilariaceous genera. Distribution: Endemic to Okinoerabu I., southern Japan, where it occurs in shallow tide pools.

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Contributors
Some of the descriptions included in AlgaeBase were originally from the unpublished Encyclopedia of Algal Genera, organised in the 1990s by Dr Bruce Parker on behalf of the Phycological Society of America (PSA) and intended to be published in CD format. These AlgaeBase descriptions are now being continually updated, and each current contributor is identified above. The PSA and AlgaeBase warmly acknowledge the generosity of all past and present contributors and particularly the work of Dr Parker.

Descriptions of chrysophyte genera were subsequently published in J. Kristiansen & H.R. Preisig (eds.). 2001. Encyclopedia of Chrysophyte Genera. Bibliotheca Phycologica 110: 1-260.

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Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 17 September 2021. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 25 April 2024