An update on the morphology and phylogeny of the nanoplanktonic dinoflagellate Prorocentrum nux

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DOI	Resolve DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jeu.70019
Author	Search for: Mordret, Solenn¹; Search for: MacKinnon, Jenna¹; Search for: Breglia, Susana A.²; Search for: Slamovits, Claudio H.²; Search for: Chénard, Caroline¹ORCID identifier: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8199-3531
Affiliation	National Research Council Canada. Aquatic and Crop Resource Development Dalhousie University. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Institute for Comparative Genomics
Funder	Search for: National Research Council Canada
Format	Text, Article
Subject	Prorocentrales; Laurentian channel; plankton; protist; taxonomy; Dinophyceae
Abstract	The Prorocentrales are a diverse group of dinophytes found in a wide range of marine environments. However, species delimitation in the genus Prorocentrum still remains a challenge, especially for nanoscale species where morphological and molecular information is often incomplete. Prorocentrum nux is an example where information is sparse and efforts are needed. In this study, we present a detailed description of the morphological features and molecular information for a Northwest Atlantic strain (AGSB-0131). Using Scanning Electron Microscopy, additional morphological features from the original description were highlighted, including the periflagellar area configuration (nine vs. seven platelets) and pattern dissimilarities for the large and marginal pores. In addition to the revised description, the 18S rRNA gene, partial 28S rRNA gene, mitochondrial cox1 and cob genes were generated from strain AGSB-0131, revealing some ambiguity in the existing data available for P. nux. An important genetic divergence between the only 18S rRNA sequence currently available for P. nux (strain RCC303) and AGSB-0131 was highlighted, suggesting the importance of using the same strain to retrieve morphological and molecular information for nanodinoflagellates. Adding genetic markers for the correct identification of P. nux will enhance the ability to access its prevalence in the marine environment.
Publication date	2025-06-26
Publisher	Wiley
Licence	Creative Commons, Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
In	Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology 72, no. 4, e70019 (26 June 2025): 1–14.
Related data	View items (5) Prorocentrum nux isolate AGSB0131 small subunit ribosomal RNA gene, partial sequence: GenBank: PQ510849.1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nuccore/PQ510849. Prorocentrum nux isolate AGSB0131 large subunit ribosomal RNA gene, partial sequence: GenBank: PQ510850.1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nuccore/PQ510850. Prorocentrum nux isolate AGSB0131 small subunit ribosomal RNA gene, partial sequence; internal transcribed spacer 1, 5.8S ribosomal RNA gene, and internal transcribed spacer 2, complete sequence; and large subunit ribosomal RNA gene, partial sequence: GenBank: PQ508261.1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nuccore/PQ508261. Prorocentrum sp. isolate AGSB0131 cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene, partial cds; mitochondrial: GenBank: PQ639436.1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nuccore/PQ639436. Prorocentrum sp. isolate AGSB0131 cytochrome b (cytb) gene, partial cds; mitochondrial: GenBank: PQ650243.1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/nuccore/PQ650243.
Language	English
Peer reviewed	Yes
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Record identifier	42fca172-8561-4b04-9c78-ab6f90ca9e10
Record created	2026-02-11
Record modified	2026-02-11

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Date modified:: 2026-03-07