Molecular diversity of Microcystis strains (Cyanophyceae, Chroococcales) based on 16S rDNA sequences.

Partial 16S rDNA sequences were determined for six Microcystis strains from lakes in the region of Plön (Northern Germany) assigned to four different species on the basis of their morphology. These sequences appear very similar to each other and to those of 71 Microcystis strains from four continents available in the databases. This great genotypic homogeneity, as measured by 16S rDNA sequence similarity (334 characters), is contrasting with the conspicuous morphological differences observed for the studied strains