Amplificación del gen rbc L revela primer registro de Porphyra mumfordii (Bangiales, Rhodophyta) en la bahía de Valparaíso, Chile central

The genus Porphyra , commonly found along Chilean coast, is an important commercial algal food known as nori. There are some specimens of Porphyra found at Montemar Marine Protected Area (32°57’S; 71°33’W) in Valparaiso Bay, which taxonomical identity is not clear. This study aimed to identify long-bladed specimens of Porphyra inhabiting the upper, mid and lower intertidal in Valparaiso Bay. To do so, 30 thalli of Porphyra were collected during the winter of 2015 in Montemar. All samples were subjected to rbc L molecular marker amplification. However, only 18 individuals were sequenced successfully. In addition, a morphological description was conducted. The rbc L analysis showed that the longbladed specimens inhabiting Valparaiso Bay correspond to Porphyra mumfordii . Differences in size and color of thalli found on each intertidal level were recorded. This research constitutes the first record of P. mumfordii for central Chile.