A new record of Coelastrella Terrestris (Reisigl) Hegewald and N. Hanagata, 2002 (Sphaeropleales, Scenedesmaceae) in Iraq

• Published in: Maǧallaẗ matḥaf al-tārīh̲ al-ṭabīʻī (Baġdād) Vol. 15; no. 2; pp. 153 - 161
• Main Authors: al-Rawi, Altaf, Allush, Bushra Muhammad Jabir, Hasan, Fikrat Majid, al-Isa, Nagham Isa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Baghdad, Iraq University of Baghdad, Iraq Natural History Research Center and Museum 2018
• ISSN: 1017-8678; 2311-9799
• DOI: 10.26842/binhm.7.2018.15.2.0153

This study identified the genus Coelastrella Chodat, 1922 which was isolated from a sediment sample taken from the Tigris river in Baghdad Governorate, Iraq. The alga was isolated and cultured in modified Chu 10 media and the morphological features of the isolated algae were observed in light microscopy (LM); it showed some characteristic features of this genus, such as its ellipsoidal or lemon- shaped cells, a visible pyrenoid and the chloroplast parietal. To ensure correct identification of the isolated alga, a molecular analysis using 18S rRNA gene and DNA sequencing revealed a match with C. terrestris (Reisigl) Hedewald & N. Hanagata 2002. This species is a new record in Iraq, and has been registered in NCBI under the accession number MH179121