Universal plant DNA barcode loci may not work in complex groups: a case study with Indian berberis species.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The concept of DNA barcoding for species identification has gained considerable momentum in animals because of fairly successful species identification using cytochrome oxidase I (COI). In plants, matK and rbcL have been proposed as standard barcodes. However, barcoding in complex genera is a challenging task.

Methodology and principal findings

We investigated the species discriminatory power of four reportedly most promising plant DNA barcoding loci (one from nuclear genome--ITS, and three from plastid genome--trnH-psbA, rbcL and matK) in species of Indian Berberis L. (Berberidaceae) and two other genera, Ficus L. (Moraceae) and Gossypium L. (Malvaceae). Berberis species were delineated using morphological characters. These characters resulted in a well resolved

SUBMITTER: Roy S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2965122 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature