Advances in Taxonomy of Cyanobacteria and Microalgae

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Systematics, Taxonomy, Nomenclature and Classification".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2025 | Viewed by 1832

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
CIIMAR—Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, Matosinhos, Portugal
Interests: phycology; taxonomy; biotechnology; toxins

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Guest Editor
Department of Biology, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco (UFRPE), R. Dom Manuel de Medeiros, s/n, Recife, Brazil
Interests: cyanobacteria; phylogeny; algae; taxonomy

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Guest Editor
Génomique Métabolique, Genoscope, Institut François Jacob, CEA, CNRS, Université Evry, Université Paris-Saclay, 2 Rue Gaston Crémieux, 91057 Evry, France
Interests: microbial ecology; genomics; phylogenomics

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Guest Editor
Agronomy Department, Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, University of Florida—IFAS, 3205 College Avenue, Davie, FL 33314, USA
Interests: cyanobacteria; harmful algal blooms; taxonomy; systematics; genomics; HAB management and mitigation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are excited to announce a Special Issue of our scientific journal, entitled “Advances in Taxonomy of Cyanobacteria and Microalgae”. This Special Issue is dedicated to exploring the latest breakthroughs and developments in the taxonomy of these vital organisms.

Taxonomy of cyanobacteria and microalgae is of paramount importance for numerous reasons. Accurate identification and classification of these species are essential for ecological research, environmental monitoring, and biodiversity conservation. These organisms play crucial roles in their ecosystems, acting as primary oxygen producers and forming the basis of various food webs. Their ability to adapt to diverse environments—from freshwater to marine and even extreme habitats—underscores their ecological significance.

Furthermore, cyanobacteria and microalgae are rich sources of bioactive compounds with potential applications in pharmaceuticals, cosmeceuticals, and biotechnology. Proper taxonomic classification helps in identifying species with desirable traits for bioenergy production, biofuels, dietary supplements, and other industrial applications.

This Special Issue invites submissions of original research articles, reviews, and short communications that address various aspects of cyanobacterial and microalgal taxonomy. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Descriptions of new cyanobacterial and microalgal taxa;
  • Advances in molecular markers, genomics, and metabarcoding techniques;
  • Phylogenetic studies and evolutionary insights;
  • Ecological and environmental implications of taxonomic discoveries;
  • Applications of taxonomic research in biotechnology and industry.

We encourage researchers and experts in the field to contribute their latest findings and insights. This Special Issue aims to be a comprehensive resource for advancing our understanding of the taxonomy of cyanobacteria and microalgae, fostering further research and innovation in this dynamic field.

Dr. Guilherme Scotta Hentschke
Dr. Watson Júnior
Dr. Janaina Rigonato
Dr. H. Dail Laughinghouse IV
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Plants is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • cyanobacteria
  • microalgae
  • phylogenetics
  • evolution

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 8924 KiB  
Article
The Description of the Extremophile Reticulonema bolivianum gen. et sp. nov. (Microcoleaceae, Cyanobacteria) and the Review of the Phylogenetic Status of the Genus Capilliphycus Based on the 16S rRNA Gene
by Guilherme Scotta Hentschke, Claudia Hoepfner, Daniel Guzmán and Vitor M. Vasconcelos
Plants 2025, 14(3), 310; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14030310 - 21 Jan 2025
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Abstract
This article describes a new genus and species of cyanobacteria isolated from Laguna Pastos Grandes in the Bolivian Altiplano. This discovery marks the first described species of this phylum from this extreme environment. Additionally, the phylogenetic status of the genus Capilliphycus is reassessed. [...] Read more.
This article describes a new genus and species of cyanobacteria isolated from Laguna Pastos Grandes in the Bolivian Altiplano. This discovery marks the first described species of this phylum from this extreme environment. Additionally, the phylogenetic status of the genus Capilliphycus is reassessed. The analyses are based on 16S rRNA gene maximum likelihood and Bayesian phylogenies, identity (p-distance), morphology and habitat comparisons. The new genus is a Lyngbya-like type from a mat at the margin of a brackish–alkaline lake with borax. It is phylogenetically close to Dapis, Tenebriella and Okeania, but compared to these genera, the maximum 16S rRNA gene identity values reached only 90.9%, 91.1% and 92.5%, respectively. The genus Capilliphycus was found to be polyphyletic. The type species Capilliphycus salinus is clustered with C. guerandensis. However, “C. tropicalis” and “C. flaviceps” form a distinct clade, distant from the Capilliphycus type species. Between the two “Capilliphycus” clades, Sirenicapillaria and Limnoraphis are found. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Taxonomy of Cyanobacteria and Microalgae)
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21 pages, 4246 KiB  
Article
Taxonomic, Physiological, and Biochemical Characterization of Asterarcys quadricellularis AQYS21 as a Promising Sustainable Feedstock for Biofuels and ω-3 Fatty Acids
by Nam Seon Kang, Sung Min An, Chang Rak Jo, Hyunji Ki, Sun Young Kim, Hyeon Gyeong Jeong, Grace Choi, Ji Won Hong and Kichul Cho
Plants 2024, 13(21), 3008; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13213008 - 28 Oct 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1025
Abstract
Asterarcys quadricellularis strain AQYS21, a green microalga isolated from the brackish waters near Manseong-ri Black Sand Beach in Korea, shows considerable potential as a source of bioactive compounds and biofuels. Therefore, this study analyzed the morphological, molecular, and biochemical characteristics of this strain; [...] Read more.
Asterarcys quadricellularis strain AQYS21, a green microalga isolated from the brackish waters near Manseong-ri Black Sand Beach in Korea, shows considerable potential as a source of bioactive compounds and biofuels. Therefore, this study analyzed the morphological, molecular, and biochemical characteristics of this strain; optimized its cultivation conditions; and evaluated its suitability for biodiesel production. Morphological analysis revealed characteristics typical of the Asterarcys genus: spherical to ellipsoidal cells with pyrenoid starch plates and mucilage-embedded coenobia. Additionally, features not previously reported in other A. quadricellularis strains were observed. These included young cells with meridional ribs and an asymmetric spindle-shaped form with one or two pointed ends. Molecular analysis using small-subunit rDNA and tufA sequences confirmed the identification of the strain AQYS21. This strain showed robust growth across a wide temperature range, with optimal conditions at 24 °C and 88 µmol m−2s−1 photon flux density. It was particularly rich in ω-3 α-linolenic acid and palmitic acid. Furthermore, its biodiesel properties indicated its suitability for biodiesel formulations. The biomass of this microalga may serve as a viable feedstock for biodiesel production and a valuable source of ω-3 fatty acids. These findings reveal new morphological characteristics of A. quadricellularis, enhancing our understanding of the species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Taxonomy of Cyanobacteria and Microalgae)
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Planned Papers

The below list represents only planned manuscripts. Some of these manuscripts have not been received by the Editorial Office yet. Papers submitted to MDPI journals are subject to peer-review.

Title: Tentative title: Description of novel cyanobacteria from coastal Florida salt marshes
Authors: Dale Casamatta, Emily Howe, Anne Hurley
Affiliation: University of North Florida
Abstract: Not available yet.

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