NEW RECORDS OF SARGASSUM SPECIES (SARGASSACEAE, PHAEOPHYTA) FROM THE PERSIAN GULF AND OMAN SEA IN IRAN

The genus Sargassum C. Agardh (Sargassaceae, Fucales), despite considerable research efforts, is still one of the most systematically complex and problematic genera of Phaeophyta. The marine algal flora of Iran received little attention than other marine water bodies. This paper describe 7 species as Sargassum new records along the Iranian coasts including Sargassum baccularia (Mertens) C. A. Agardh, S. binderi Sonder, S. gemmiphorum Tseng et Lu, S. longifructum Tseng et Lu, S. henslowianum C. Agardh, S. boveanum J. Agardh var. aterrimum Grunow and S. spinuligerum Sonder. The more consistent morphological characters for each species were recognized and these characters include: Holdfast shape, length/width leaves, leaves margin and apex, vesicles and receptacles shape.The most common species were S. spinuligerum, S. baccularia, S. henslowianum and S. longifructum distributed widely in Sistan va Baluchestan province and S. binderi, S. boveanum var atterimum restricted to Bandar Langeh and Bushehr province, respectively.