Phenolic compounds as chemical markers of low taxonomic levels in the marine algal genus Laurencia in the Persian Gulf

The genus Laurencia(Rhodomelaceae), a complex group, has 285 species and infraspecific names. Identification and taxonomy of these taxa, mainly has been based on flexible morphological characters which have led to a complicated taxonomy in this group. Nowadays, taxonomical study of this group has changed a lot by using reproductive characters, anatomical differences and modern molecular studies. In this study, the samples have been collected from some areas of the Persian Gulf coasts and islands of Hormozgan province (southern Iran). Afterward, their anatomical, reproductive and chemical properties have been examined. The outcomes revealed that, the Folin-Ciocalteau method can be utilized as a taxonomical character in ultimate identification and the confirmation among species and varieties of this genus. It became clear that, there is a meaningful difference between two samples which were under study due to measuring the amount of polyphenols and finally, L. obtusa var. mollissima was separated from type variety of L. obtusa.