RESUMEN
Objective To test and eva1uate the abi1ity of three potential chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) barcoding sequences;To find new methods to identify the species of gardenia. Methods Three cpDNA sequences were amplified and sequenced by universal primers of matK, rbcL and psbA. By comparing PCR amplification efficiency, length, intra-and inter-specific divergence, and barcoding gap, BLAST and DNA MAN were used to evaluate these loci. Results The amplification efficiency of 5 samples from 3 gardenia species was 100%. Analysis of the intra-and inter-specific divergence of matK among the sequences showed that barcoding gap was superior to psbA and rbcL, with higher identification efficiency. Conclusion Gardenia jasminoides Ellis can be better identified by matK sequence.