DNA barcode identification of original species in Aesculus Linn / 中草药

ABSTRACT

Objective: To screen the DNA barcodes for identifying the species in genus Aesculus Linn. Methods: The PCR amplification and sequencing efficacy, intraspecific and interspecific variation, and identification efficiency of nuclear ITS, ITS2, chlroplast psbA-trnH, rbcL, and matK sequences from 42 samples of 10 species in genus Aesculus Linn. were investigated. The screened sequences were determined by barcoding gap and NJ tree clustering analysis. Results: The PCR amplification and sequencing efficacy of psbA-trnH were 100%, the interspecific minimum variation was larger than the intraspecific maximum variation, and psbA-trnH had the highest identification efficacy. The psbA-trnH sequence had less polymerization of intraspecific and interspecific variation. By constructing the NJ tree, thorough verifying the three original plants could be used to separate with other related species. Conclusion: The psbA-trnH sequence is a powerful, though not perfect, barcode for the identification of species in Aesculus Linn.