Taxonomic Identification of Cyanobacteria by a Polyphasic Approach

In this chapter, we shall discuss the criteria and methods to be adopted for the taxonomic identification and classification of cyanobacteria. This includes a brief introduction of the two Codes of Nomenclature ruling in parallel on the valid naming of these organisms. We shall then present the major steps important for cyanobacterial taxa identification and their nomenclature. These include: 1) determination of morphology by light microscopy; 2) genetic characterization by single and/or multilocus sequence typing; 3) the assignment of the organism to a taxonomic entity (genus, species, eco- and/or genotype within a species) by reference to, and phylogenetic analysis of, cyanobacterial nucleotide sequences available in public repositories. Ideally, these methods should be accompanied by the determination of other relevant properties (ultrastructural, physiological, biochemical, and ecological characteristics) that may help to define/redefine and circumscribe the cyanobacterial taxon under study.