Genetic and morphologic characterization of four putative cylindrospermopsin producing species of the cyanobacterial genera Anabaena and Aphanizomenon

Cylindrospermopsin (CYN) is a potent hepatotoxic alkaloid that has been detected in freshwater samples worldwide and is produced by a number of cyanobacterial species, mainly of the genera Cylindrospermopsis, Aphanizomenon and Anabaena. Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii is a morphologically distinctive species which forms a genetically well-defined cluster. In contrast, some species within Aphanizomenon and Anabaena are morphologically not clearly assignable to either genera and both genera are polyphyletic. In the Cylindrospermopsis cluster CYN producing and non-producing strains co-occur, but it is not known if CYN producing and non-producing strains are closely related in Anabaena and Aphanizomenon. Here we attempt to disentangle the phylogenetic relationships of four taxa of the genera Anabaena and Aphanizomenon, some of which are known as CYN producers. We have sequenced and phylogenetically analysed partial sequences of the 16S rRNA gene, cpcBA-IGS and rpoC1 from 31 cyanobacteria isolates of the genera Aphanizomenon and Anabaena and have documented morphotypic characteristics of new and recently isolated strains. Our results do not corroborate the separation of Aph. gracile and Aph. flos-aquae into separate species. In contrast, they support the distinction of Ana. bergii and Aph. ovalisporum into distinct taxa. Further, Ana. bergii is most likely not a CYN producing species.