Desmonostoc danxiaense sp. nov. (Nostocales, Cyanobacteria) from Danxia mountain in China based on polyphasic approach

Researchers have identified and described a new species of cyanobacterium, Desmonostoc danxiaense, from the UNESCO World Heritage Site China Danxia. This discovery expands the recently established genus Desmonostoc, known for its macroscopic colonies with mucilaginous envelopes and long akinete chains. The study employed a polyphasic approach, combining morphological traits with molecular data from 16S rRNA gene sequences and ITS (internal transcribed spacer) regions, including secondary structure analysis. Phylogenetic clustering revealed that D. danxiaense is closely related to other Desmonostoc species but distinct in phenotypic characteristics and genetic markers. This finding contributes to the understanding of cyanobacterial diversity in unique geological environments like Danxia's colorful sandstone formations.

CAI, F., YANG, Y., WEN, Q., & LI, R. (2018). Desmonostoc danxiaense sp. nov. (Nostocales, Cyanobacteria) from Danxia mountain in China based on polyphasic approach. Phytotaxa, 367(3). https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.367.3.3