Genetic Analysis of the Seagrass Halodule in Central Visayas, Philippines

Genetic variation of seagrass species H. uninervis and H. pinifolia with varying leaf width, from different sites, density and exposure in the Central Visayas were assessed using plastid rbcL marker specific for Halodule. The genetic structures of the rbcL sequences analyzed from 83 specimens of Halodule uninervis and H.pinifolia were 671 base-pairs (bp) long (with a difference of 2 base pairs (bp) substitutes of A in uninervis to C and G in pinifolia). All specimens of Halodule from three different sites in Central Visayas were clustered only into clades: H. pinifolia and H. uninervis, maintaining that despite significant morphological variation in leaf width due to different sites, density and exposure, the two are still separate species.

 

Keywords - seagrass, DNA, rbcL marker