Abstract In vitro multiplication is the main method for seedling production of Comanthera mucugensis, an endangered ornamental plant. The technique consists of cultivating plant tissues under aseptic conditions, controlled environment, and using appropriate culture medium. The physical characteristics of the medium are mainly determined by the presence of a gelling agent. Agar is the most used substance on the in vitro cultivation of C. mucugensis, however, it is one of the most costly components to manufacture the medium. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of κ-carrageenan as an alternative gelling agent in the propagation of C. mucugensis. The seeds and stem explants were cultured on medium gelled with agar or κ-carrageenan, both at 7 g L-1 concentration. The results indicated that the plants established in medium with κ-carrageenan presented an increase in length and induced formation of shoots. Direct organogenesis was also improved with the use of this gelling agent. In comparison, agar culture presented the lowest rate of direct regeneration and the lowest number of shoots. In addition, gelation with κ-carrageenan was efficient in increasing the frequency of callogenesis, as well as, the highest callus regeneration and number of shoots per callus. Rooting was not affected by the type of gelling agent. The substitution of agar for κ-carrageenan can represent a reduction of 23.2% in the cost of manufacturing the culture medium for in vitro propagation of C. mucugensis.

From a floristic study of the Family Characeae in the Metropolitan Region of Feira de Santana, Bahia State, we detected four species of Nitella, of which two are new additions for that state: N. axillaris, and N. praelonga, the latter being, of rare occurrence in Brazil, reported for the first time for the northeastern Brazil. The materials were analyzed using photonic and scanning electron microscopy. For all these species we provide descriptions, information on habitat, geographic distribution in Brazil and taxonomic notes.

A partir de um estudo florístico da Família Characeae na Região Metropolitana de Feira de Santana, Estado da Bahia, detectamos quatro espécies de Nitella, das quais duas são adições para o Estado: N. axillaris e N. praelonga, esta última, de ocorrência rara no Brasil, relatada pela primeira vez para o Nordeste brasileiro. Os materiais foram analisados através de microscopia fotônica e eletrônica de varredura. Para todas essas espécies fornecemos descrições, informações sobre hábitat, distribuição geográfica no Brasil e notas taxonômicas.

ABSTRACT The Caatinga domain is the largest and most diverse tropical semiarid ecoregion of South America; however, little is known about the diversity of desmids it harbors, especially the genus Cosmarium (Desmidiaceae, Zygnematophyceae). Our study contributes to the knowledge of Cosmarium in the Caatinga through the report of 42 interesting taxa, including a new species (Cosmarium imperiale), 22 new records for South America, and 19 additions to the desmid flora from Brazil. The samples were gathered from periphytic material from the “Pantanal dos Marimbus” in the Chapada Diamantina region of Northeast Brazil. We provide taxonomic notes, ecological information, including habitat conditions with limnological data, and updated global distributions for all taxa of Cosmarium. A complementary quantitative study was performed during the last year of sampling (2018), which revealed that most taxa have their highest densities in the months with low precipitation and when the water's conductivity and transparency are greater. Our results also have implications for the conservation of the biota from Marimbus do Baiano and understand South America's desmids' biogeography since some rare taxa identified here were previously only known from other continents such as Europe and Africa.

RESUMO (Notas taxonômicas sobre o gênero Nitella C. Agardh (Characeae) da Região Metropolitana de Feira de Santana, Estado da Bahia, Brasil). A partir de um estudo florístico da Família Characeae na Região Metropolitana de Feira de Santana, Estado da Bahia, detectamos quatro espécies de Nitella, das quais duas são adições para o Estado: N. axillaris e N. praelonga, esta última, de ocorrência rara no Brasil, relatada pela primeira vez para o Nordeste brasileiro. Os materiais foram analisados através de microscopia fotônica e eletrônica de varredura. Para todas essas espécies fornecemos descrições, informações sobre hábitat, distribuição geográfica no Brasil e notas taxonômicas

ABSTRACT From a floristic study of the Family Characeae in the Metropolitan Region of Feira de Santana, Bahia State, we detected four species of Nitella, of which two are new additions for that state: N. axillaris, and N. praelonga, the latter being, of rare occurrence in Brazil, reported for the first time for the northeastern Brazil. The materials were analyzed using photonic and scanning electron microscopy. For all these species we provide descriptions, information on habitat, geographic distribution in Brazil and taxonomic notes.

RESUMO (Protocolo de Preparação de Amostras de Desmídias (Desmidiaceae, Zygnematophyceae) para Estudos Morfológicos por meio de Microscopia Eletrônica de Varredura). A microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV) é uma ferramenta robusta no estudo de algas microscópicas, a exemplo das desmídias (Desmidiaceae, Zygnematophyceae), auxiliando na interpretação da ornamentação na parede celular, tendo em vista o uso desta como característica taxonômica. Apesar disto, nem sempre é fácil obter um bom processamento do material para análise em MEV, devido a problemas com mucilagem presente nas células, obtenção de material representativo no stub, e tempo de desidratação. Portanto, adequamos um protocolo barato, com ausência de distorção da célula e de rápido processamento (dois dias) para análise de desmídias em MEV. O material foi obtido a partir de amostras fixadas em solução de Transeau, lavado com Brometo de cetiltrimetilamônio para remover a mucilagem das células, concentrado em lamínula tendo a Poly-L-lisina como adesivo, e desidratado em série gradual crescente de Acetona. Os resultados são comparados com outros estudos realizados para o grupo

ABSTRACT Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is a robust tool in the study of desmids (Desmidiaceae, Zygnematophyceae), assisting in the interpretation of ornamentation on the cell wall, in view of its use as a taxonomic feature. Despite this, it is not always easy to obtain a good processing of the material for analysis in SEM, due to problems with mucilage present in the cells, obtaining representative material in the stub, and dehydration time. Therefore, we adapted an inexpensive protocol, with no cell distortion and fast processing (two days) for analysis under SEM. The material was obtained from samples fixed in Transeau solution, washed with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide to remove mucilage from the cells, concentrated in a coverslip used with Poly-L-lysine as an adhesive, and dehydrated in a gradual series of Acetone. The results are compared with other studies carried out in the group.

Resumo Nós apresentamos o primeiro registro confirmado do gênero Gloeotaenium (Oocystaceae, Trebouxiophyceae) no Brasil. A espécie representante (Gloeotaenium loitlesbergianum) foi coletada em um riacho de Curaçá, norte da Bahia, Brasil. Nesse trabalho nós fornecemos a descrição da espécie bem como ilustrações e notas taxonômicas.

Abstract We present here the first confirmed record of the genus Gloeotaenium in Brazil. The representative species (Gloeotaenium loitlesbergianum) was collected in a stream from Curaçá, northern Bahia state, Brazil. We provide a description of the species, illustrations, and taxonomic notes.

Resumo O levantamento florístico do gênero Chara (Charophyceae, Characeae) nas Regiões Metropolitanas de Salvador e de Feira de Santana, foi realizado em 30 estações de coleta abrangendo seis municípios da RMS e seis da RMFS. Caracteres vegetativos e reprodutivos empregados na taxonomia do grupo foram analisados através de microscopia ótica e através de microscopia eletrônica de varredura dos oósporos. Foram identificadas seis espécies: C. diaphana, C. hydropitys, C. kenoyeri, C. martiana, C. rusbyana e C. zeylanica. Com exceção de C. hydropitys, reencontrada 186 anos após a primeira coleta na Bahia, os demais táxons são adições à ficoflora do estado. O emprego de microscopia eletrônica subsidiou a interpretação da ultraestrutura da parede do oósporo das espécies de Chara e a diferenciação de táxons morfologicamente semelhantes. A ultraestrutura da parede do oósporo de C. martiana é descrita pela primeira vez.

Abstract The floristic survey of the genus Chara (Charophyceae, Characeae) in the Metropolitan Regions of Salvador and Feira de Santana, was carried out in 30 sampling station comprise six counties of RMS and six of RMFS. Vegetative and reproductive characters used in the taxonomy of the group were analyzed by optical microscopy and by scanning electron microscopy of oospores. Six species were identified: C. diaphana, C. hydropitys, C. kenoyeri, C. martiana, C. rusbyana, and C. zeylanica. Except C. hydropitys, rediscovered 186 years after the first citation for Bahia, all other taxa are additions to the phycoflora of Bahia state. The use of electron microscopy subsidized the interpretation of the ultrastructure of the oospore wall of the Chara species, and the differentiation of morphologically similar taxa. The ultrastructure of the wall of the oospore of C. martiana is described for the first time.

Resumo O presente estudo refere-se ao levantamento das espécies de algas verdes (Chlorophyta) ocorrentes em ambientes fitotelmatas bromelícolas de áreas de afloramentos rochosos (Serra da Jibóia) e restinga (Parque das Dunas), Bahia, Brasil. Foram identificados 23 táxons incluindo três espécies (Asterococcus superbus, Gongrosira papuasica e Lagerhemia chodatti) que estão sendo registradas pela primeira vez para o Brasil e duas espécies de Oedogonium (Oedogonium pulchrum and O. areschougii) que foram novamente coletadas para o Brasil após 115 anos.

Abstract A floristic survey for green algae (Chlorophyta) from bromeliad phytotelmata of areas of rocky outcrop (Serra da Jibóia) and "restinga" (Parque das Dunas), Bahia state, Brazil is presented here. A total of twenty-three taxa were identified, including three species (Asterococcus superbus, Gongrosira papuasica and Lagerhemia chodatti) that are newly reported for Brazil and two Oedogonium species (Oedogonium pulchrum and O. areschougii) that were recollected in Brazilian territory after 115 years.

ABSTRACT Knowledge of algal and cyanobacterial diversity of phytotelmata remains poorly-known, especially for bromeliads from different vegetation formations. We investigated the microalgae communities of four species of tank bromeliads from different vegetation formations in Bahia State, Northeast Brazil, highlighting the composition, richness and diversity of taxa. Sampling of water stored in bromeliads was carried out quarterly between 2014 and 2016, and abiotic variables and morphometric attributes of bromeliads were measured. A total of 89 taxa of algae and cyanobacteria were recorded for the four bromeliad species studied. The microalgae communities of the phytotelmata varied among vegetation formations, with one tank bromeliad, Alcantarea nahoumii, with more complex architecture (higher number of leaves and thus more cavities), being distinguished by its high species richness (73 taxa). The bromeliads exhibited little similarity in species composition, with only one species (Phacus polytrophos) occurring in all four species. Throughout the entire sampling period, classes with higher species richness, especially due to A. nahoumii, were Zygnematophyceae, Cyanophyceae and Chlorophyceae, which accounted for about 80 % of all species inventoried. Our results contribute to the knowledge of microalga communities of bromeliad phytotelmata in Brazil with regard to species richness and composition, as well as significant environmental characteristics.

RESUMO A partir do estudo taxonômico de desmídias em ambientes lóticos e lênticos da Área de Proteção Ambiental Litoral Norte, Bahia, Brasil, foram catalogados 35 táxons pertencentes ao gênero Cosmarium Corda ex Ralfs, dos quais 33 estão sendo registrados pela primeira vez para a flora ficológica do Nordeste do Brasil, incluindo táxons pouco conhecidos e outros redescobertos após 100 anos da última citação, como C. trinodulum Nordst. var. brasiliense Borge e Cosmarium horridum Borge. Os materiais estudados provieram de amostras coletadas em dois períodos, no verão (janeiro-março de 2009) e no inverno (junho-agosto de 2009). São fornecidas descrições e comentários com táxons afins, bem como ampliada a distribuição geográfica destes no Brasil.

ABSTRACT From the taxonomic study of desmids occurring in lotic and lentic environments in the North Coast Environmental Protection Area, Bahia, Brazil, we cataloged 35 taxa belonging to the genus Cosmarium Corda ex Ralfs, of which 33 are being registered for the first time for the phycology flora of the Northeastern Brazil including little-known taxa and others rediscovered 100 years after the last citation, e.g., Cosmarium trinodulum Nordst. var. brasiliense Borge and Cosmarium horridum Borge. The materials studied were from samples collected in two periods, namely in the summer (January-March 2009) and winter (June-August 2009). Descriptions and comments with related taxa are provided, as well as the wide geographic distribution in Brazil.

RESUMO de duas áreas do Pantanal dos Marimbus (Baiano e Remanso), Chapada Diamantina, Estado da Bahia, Brasil). Este estudo trata do estudo taxonômico da família Scenedesmaceae do Pantanal dos Marimbus, Área de Proteção Ambiental Marimbus-Iraquara, Chapada Diamantina, Bahia, Brasil. As amostras provenientes do perifíton e do plâncton foram coletadas em duas áreas do Pantanal dos Marimbus (Baiano e Remanso), durante o período seco (abril, junho e agosto de 2011) e o período chuvoso (outubro, dezembro de 2011 e fevereiro de 2012). São descritos 27 táxons, dos quais 18 são adições a flora ficológica da Bahia.

ABSTRACT from two areas of the Marimbus Pantanal (Baiano and Remanso), Chapada Diamantina, Bahia State, Brazil). This work deal with the taxonomy of the Family Scenedesmaceae from Marimbus Pantanal, Environmental Protection Area Marimbus-Iraquara, Chapada Diamantina, Bahia State, Brazil. Samples from the periphyton and plankton were collected in two areas of the Marimbus Pantanal (Baiano and Remanso) during the dry season (April, June, and August 2011) and the rainy season (October, December 2011, and February 2012). This study describes 27 taxa, including 18 additions to the phycological flora of Bahia.

In this paper, we summarize the diversity of Polyphysaceae species in Todos os Santos Bay, in the state of Bahia, Brazil. On the basis of ten years of collections and the analysis of herbarium material, six species have been recorded for the area: Acetabularia caliculus J.V.Lamour. in Quoy & Gaimard; A. crenulata J.V.Lamour.; A. schenckii Möbius; Parvocaulis myriosporus (Joly & Cord.-Mar.) C.W.N.Moura & J.C.De Andrade comb. nov.; P. pusillus (M.Howe) Berger et al.; and P. parvulus (Solms) S. Berger et al. The last has a distribution extending to the southern Atlantic Ocean. Acetabularia myriospora was transferred to Parvocaulis (as P. myriosporus) on the basis of its short corrugated peduncles and lack of a lower corona in the gametangial ray discs, which are diagnostic characters of this genus. In Todos os Santos Bay, Acetabularia species are more widely distributed than are Parvocaulis species, which are currently restricted to Itaparica Island. The most common taxa were A. caliculus and A. schenckii, which were collected from the majority of the study sites. This paper provides detailed descriptions of the morphology, reproductive aspects and geographic distributions of the algae, as well as discussing the taxa studied.

The present study presents 11 new additions of coccoid green algae to the phycoflora of Brazil, including the first record of the genus Westellopsis for the neotropical region. Samples of periphyton and plankton were collected in two areas of the Marimbus Wetlands (the Marimbus do Baiano and Marimbus do Remanso, within the Marimbus-Iraquara Environmentally Protected Area), in the Chapada Diamantina Region of the state of Bahia, Brazil. Sample collection occurred during dry periods (April-June and August 2011) and rainy periods (October-December 2011 and February 2012). Here, we describe the taxa identified from the 56 samples collected.

Our knowledge of desmids with cylindrical morphologies in the state of Bahia, Brazil, is quite limited, only 13 such taxa having been described to date. The present study reports the results of a taxonomic inventory of desmids (Desmidiaceae) with cylindrical morphologies from the coastal plains of northern Bahia. During the summer months (January-March) and winter months (June-August) of two separate years (2007 and 2009), we collected a total of 90 samples of planktonic and periphytic material from lotic and lentic environments within three environmentally protected areas within the state (Rio Capivara, Lagoas de Guarajuba, and Litoral Norte). We identified 32 taxa, distributed among six genera (Docidium, Haplotaenium, Ichthyocercus, Pleurotaenium, Tetmemorus, and Triploceras); three were new additions to the algal flora of Brazil (Haplotaenium minutum var. minutum f. maius, Ichthyocercus angolensis, and Pleurotaenium coronatum var. nodulosum). In addition, the geographical distributions of 20 taxa were expanded to include northeastern Brazil. The genus Docidium was reported for the first time in Bahia.

This study presents the first taxonomic inventory of the order Zygnematales in the Litoral Norte Environmentally Protected Area, in the state of Bahia, Brazil. Fifty samples of planktonic and periphytic material were collected, from lotic and lentic environments, during the summer (January-March) and winter (June-August) of 2009. We identified 18 taxa distributed among five genera (Cylindrocystis, Mougeotia, Netrium, Spirogyra, and Spirotaenia). Of those 18 taxa, eight were new additions to the Brazilian desmid flora: Mougeotia calcarea; Mougeotia elegantula; Spirogyra gracilis; Cylindrocystis crassa var. elliptica; Cylindrocystis brebissonii var. minor; Cylindrocystis brebissonii var. turgida; Netrium digitus var. parvum; and Netrium oblongum var. oblongum. The geographical distributions of ten taxa were extended to include northeastern Brazil.