Genetic variation of gracilaria cervicornis (rhodophyta) gametophytes from the canary islands

Abstract

Genetic variability of gametophytic populations of Gracilaria cervicornis from three localities sampled in the Canary Islands (Spain) was examined by isozyme electrophoresis. Seventeen putative alleles corresponding to 16 gene loci were compared. The genetic variability of populations (percentage of polymorphic loci, mean number of alleles per locus and average gene diversity) was low, with a high number of fixed alleles. These results suggest that the genetic structure of the populations of G. cervicornis from the Canary Islands may be due to a predominance of vegetative propagation and low sporeling recruitment. Some heterogeneity was observed at two polymorphic loci which could be due to random drift. The values obtained in the present study are consistent with the genetic variation described for other red seaweeds with a predominance of asexual reproduction.