MOLECULAR EVIDENCE CONFIRMS SISTER RELATIONSHIP OF ARDISSONEA, CLIMACOSPHENIA, AND TOXARIUM WITHIN THE BIPOLAR CENTRIC DIATOMS (BACILLARIOPHYTA, MEDIOPHYCEAE), AND CLADISTIC ANALYSES CONFIRM THAT EXTREMELY ELONGATED SHAPE HAS ARISEN TWICE IN THE DIATOMS(1).

With the use of a new kit from Qiagen to amplify total genome quantity, DNA was bulked up from two diatoms that are difficult to grow (Ardissonea and Climacosphenia), and the nuclear SSU rRNA gene was successfully amplified. Results of Bayesian analyses showed that these diatoms are sister to Toxarium and belong to the bi- and multipolar centric diatoms. The results indicate that extremely elongate shape has arisen at least twice in diatoms, in the true pennates, and in the bipolar centrics. The two lateral pattern centers of Ardissonea and Climacosphenia likely represent a modified annulus that subtends ribs internally as well as externally. Studies of sexual reproduction are needed to determine whether Ardissonea, Climacosphenia, and Toxarium achieve their elongate shape by similar means to each other and to true pennates, that is, by controlling the expansion of the auxospores by sequential addition of silicified bands (to form a properizonium or perizonium).