Cyanobacterial Diversity Assessment Under Diverse Environments: A Molecular Approach

Abstract

Cyanobacteria are photosynthetic microorganisms that inhabit diverse environmental conditions worldwide, ranging from freshwater and soil to extreme conditions. Apart from their photosynthesis and nitrogen-fixing abilities, they also produce a large variety of molecules with high potential in pharmaceutical and industrial applications. Recent investigations have elucidated that most of the cyanobacteria that belong to orders Oscillatoriales, Nostocales, Chroococcales, and Synechococcales have been extensively characterized. In contrast, those that belong to Pleurocapsales, Chroococcidiopsales, and Gloeobacterales remain unexplored in terms of their molecular diversity and relative bioactivity. In recent decades, molecular biology techniques have revealed valuable insights into the role and functions of various prokaryotes, including cyanobacteria, by precisely mapping their diversity in their natural environment. This review provides an overview of molecular techniquesandtheir advantages and limitations for studying cyanobacterial diversity.