Selection of suitable fragment from rbcL gene for DNA barcode analysis of family Halymeniaceae, Rhodophyta

Among the members of Halymeniaceae family, Grateloupia sensu lato occupies the largest composition in species. Classification based on morphological traits is difficult due to the highly variable terete to blade-like thalli among the members of this genus that usually leads to misidentification. Molecular systematics has been applied to classify Grateloupia sensu lato so that the taxonomists acquire a better understanding of the species diversity in general. The plastid gene encoding the large subunit of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphatecarboxylase-oxygenase (rbcL) was the focus of numerous marine algal studies concerning phylogeny and molecular evolution.