ABSTRACT
Objective To study rDNA ITS sequence similarities and differences between the de-virus seedlings and outside seedlings of Pseudostellaria heterophylla. Methods The sequences of ITS region (including ITS1, ITS2, and 5.8S) from nine de-virus seedlings and four outside seedlings were studied by the method of DNA sequence analysis. Results There were the same sequences in 5.8S region between the de-virus seedlings and outside seedlings of P. heterophylla. Variable sites lay in the initial position of ITS1 and termination of ITS2 basically. The de-virus seedlings from Liyang (Jiangsu Province) and Xuancheng (Anhui Province) had more variable sites. Phylogenetic dendrogram based on ITS was constructed by using UPGMA methods, which showed the inherent relation at the level of molecular biology. Conclusion The analysis of rDNA ITS of P. heterophylla has further clarified the inherit stability of de-virus seedlings at the molecular level.