Morphological and Molecular Documentation of Diploneis cf. puella (Diploneidales,  Bacillariophyta) from a Korean Tidal Flat

Sung Min An; Kichul Cho; Hyeon-Gyeong Jeong

doi:10.4217/OPR.2026024

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2026 Vol.48 Preview Page

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Morphological and Molecular Documentation of Diploneis cf. puella (Diploneidales, Bacillariophyta) from a Korean Tidal Flat

28 September 2026. pp. 1-12

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Abstract

Diploneis puella (Schumann) Cleve has long been included in Korean floristic checklists, but detailed morphological documentation and molecular sequence data linked to verifiable Korean material have been lacking. In this study, the single-cell-derived clonal strain TA13001, isolated from tidal-flat sediment in Korea, was examined using light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and two molecular markers. Valves were broadly elliptic to nearly oval with rounded apices, narrow longitudinal canals, a small quadrate to slightly rectangular central nodule, robust slightly radiate striae (14–16 in 10 μm), and straight to nearly straight raphe branches. The external proximal raphe endings were slightly expanded and shortly deflected, whereas the distal endings continued into short, curved terminal fissures. Valve length ranged from 12.2 to 17.7 μm and valve width from 5.9 to 8.6 μm. Comparison with historical and modern concepts of D. puella and morphologically similar taxa showed that the overall character combination of TA13001 was most consistent with the available morphological concept of D. puella. However, because comparable type- or topotype-associated SEM observations are unavailable, the taxonomic significance of the consistently deflected proximal raphe endings and curved terminal fissures cannot presently be resolved. We therefore designate strain TA13001 as Diploneis cf. puella. Partial 18S rDNA (1,658 bp; PZ575168) and rbcL (1,428 bp; PZ573723) sequences were obtained from the same morphologically documented strain. These sequences showed high similarity to previously deposited unidentified Korean Diploneis isolates, but no verified public 18S rDNA or rbcL sequences assigned to D. puella were available for direct species-level molecular confirmation. This study provides traceable morphological and molecular documentation of Korean material identified as D. cf. puella and a reference for future taxonomic reassessment and biodiversity studies of Diploneis.

Keywords

Bacillariophyta

benthic diatom

Diploneis

molecular documentation

rbcL

tidal flat

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Information

Publisher :Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology
Publisher(Ko) :한국해양과학기술원
Journal Title :Ocean and Polar Research
Journal Title(Ko) :Ocean and Polar Research
Volume : 48
Pages :1-12
Received Date : 2026-06-24
Revised Date : 2026-09-07
Accepted Date : 2026-09-08
Published Date : 2026-09-28
DOI :https://doi.org/10.4217/OPR.2026024

Ocean and Polar Research ISSN:2234-7313(Online) Ocean and Polar Research

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