Discrimination and Characterization of Two Mediterranean Species from the Laurencia Complex (Rhodomelacea) Using an NMR‐Based Metabolomic Approach

Generic and specific determination among the Laurencia complex is a challenging task. DNA barcoding combined with phenotypic investigations are mandatory for species differentiation. In this study, two morphologically different members of the Laurencia complex were investigated using untargeted 1H-NMR-based metabolomics. Twenty-one population samples were collected in order to evaluate both temporal and geographical homogeneity. Data obtained from 1H-NMR analysis followed by statistical analysis allowed a clear separation of all the samples into two groups. DNA mitochondrial tests confirmed this pattern and identified the two species as Laurenciella sp. and Laurencia obtusa. In addition, metabolites responsible of this discrimination were investigated directly in crude extracts by 13C-NMR using an in-house computer-assisted method. The combination of both untargeted (1H) and targeted (13C) NMR-based metabolomic approaches proves to be a powerful and complementary approach to discriminate species from the Laurencia complex.