Morphological and molecular characterization of Calothrix isolates obtained from diverse environments in India.

Abstract-Thirty cyanobacterial strains of Calothrix (family Rivulariaceae) isolated from diverse geographical regions of India were analyzed using morphological and molecular approaches. Most of the isolates were planktonic while some grew benthically. Significant differences were observed with regard to the shape and size of the vegetative cells, heterocysts, and akinetes. Analyses of molecular polymorphisms using Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms (RFLP) of 16S rRNA genes with the reference strain led to unambiguous differentiation of the isolates as well as understanding of their genetic relationships.