Molecular and morphological analyses clarify species delimitation in section Costatae and reveal Betula buggsii sp. nov. (sect. Costatae, Betulaceae) in China.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Delineating closely related and morphologically similar species is difficult. Here, we integrate morphology, genetics, ploidy and geography to resolve species and subspecies boundaries in four trees of section Costatae (genus Betula): Betula ashburneri, B. costata, B. ermanii and B. utilis, as well as multiple subspecies and polyploid races.

Methods

We genotyped 371 individuals (20-133 per species) from 51 populations at 15 microsatellite markers, as well as a subset of individuals, using restriction-site associated DNA sequencing and nuclear internal transcribed spacers. We determined the ploidy level of eight individuals using flow cytometry and characterized leaf variation for a subset of 109 individuals by morphometric analysis.

Key results

Int

SUBMITTER: Wang L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8944703 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature