title: Minimally destructive sampling of type specimens of Pyropia (Bangiales, Rhodophyta) recovers complete plastid and mitochondrial genomes.
abstract: Plant species, including algae and fungi, are based on type specimens to which the name of a taxon is permanently attached. Applying a scientific name to any specimen therefore requires demonstrating correspondence between the type and that specimen. Traditionally, identifications are based on morpho-anatomical characters, but recently systematists are using DNA sequence data. These studies are flawed if the DNA is isolated from misidentified modern specimens. We propose a genome-based solution. Using 4 × 4 mm(2) of material from type specimens, we assembled 14 plastid and 15 mitochondrial genomes attributed to the red algae Pyropia perforata, Py. fucicola, and Py. kanakaensis. The chloroplast genomes were fairly conserved, but the mitochondrial genomes differed significantly among populations in content and length. Complete genomes are attainable from 19(th) and early 20(th) century type specimens; this validates the effort and cost of their curation as well as supports the practice of the type method.
authors.affiliation: Division of Mathematics, Science, and Engineering, Hartnell College, 411 Central Ave., Salinas, California 93901, USA.
authors.forename: Jeffery R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Hughey
authors.affiliation: Herbarium and Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, CB# 3280, Coker Hall, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-3280, USA.
authors.forename: Paul W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Gabrielson
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Campus Box 357710, 1705 NE Pacific St. Seattle, Washington 98195, USA.
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rohmer
authors.affiliation: Division of Mathematics, Science, and Engineering, Hartnell College, 411 Central Ave., Salinas, California 93901, USA.
authors.forename: Jacquie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tortolani
authors.affiliation: Division of Mathematics, Science, and Engineering, Hartnell College, 411 Central Ave., Salinas, California 93901, USA.
authors.forename: Mayra
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Herbarium, University of California at Berkeley, 1001 Valley Life Sciences Building 2465, Berkeley, California, 94720-2465, USA.
authors.forename: Kathy Ann
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer Science, Naval Postgraduate School, 1411 Cunningham Road, Monterey, California, 93943, USA.
authors.forename: Joel D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Young
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer Science, Naval Postgraduate School, 1411 Cunningham Road, Monterey, California, 93943, USA.
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martell
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer Science, Naval Postgraduate School, 1411 Cunningham Road, Monterey, California, 93943, USA.
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ruediger
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D002874:Chromosome Mapping / Q000379:methods*; D054629:Genome, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics*; D018745:Genome, Plant / Q000235:genetics*; D054627:Genome, Plastid / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D000461:Rhodophyta / Q000235:genetics*; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods*