DNA barcodes from four loci provide poor resolution of taxonomic groups in the genus Crataegus.

ABSTRACT: DNA barcodes can facilitate identification of organisms especially when morphological characters are limited or unobservable. To what extent this potential is realized in specific groups of plants remains to be determined. Libraries of barcode sequences from well-studied authoritatively identified plants represented by herbarium voucher specimens are needed in order for DNA barcodes to serve their intended purpose, where this is possible, and to understand the reasons behind their failure to do so, when this occurs. We evaluated four loci, widely regarded as universal DNA barcodes for plants, for their utility in hawthorn species identification. Three plastid regions, matK, rbcLa and psbA-trnH, and the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) of nuclear ribosomal DNA discriminate only some of

SUBMITTER: Zarrei M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4480070 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature