title: Identification of commercial Ganoderma (Lingzhi) species by ITS2 sequences.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  DNA barcoding can be used to authenticate Ganoderma species for safe use. This study aims to identify commercial products containing Ganoderma using DNA barcoding.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used 63 internal transcribed spacer (ITS) 2 sequences of Ganoderma species from 33 newly-sequenced wild samples, crude drugs, mycelia, spores, and authentic extracts and spore oils collected from various locations and markets, as well as 30 sequences from GenBank. Sequences were assembled and aligned using CodonCode Aligner V3.71. Intra- and inter-specific distances were estimated by MEGA 6.0, and phylogeny reconstruction was based on the K2P model. SNP(s) and RNA secondary structure of ITS2 were analyzed and compared among closely related Ganoderma species.
  
  
  RESULTS
  G. lucidum cultivated in China was different from those cultivated in Europe. "Chizhi" (G. lucidum) and "Zizhi" (G. sinense) were clustered into two clades that were separated from the other Ganoderma species. The fruiting bodies and commercial products of G. lucidum and G. sinense were successfully distinguished from those of other Ganoderma species by comparing the ITS2 sequences and RNA secondary structures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The DNA barcoding method is applicable to the authentication of commercial products containing Ganoderma species.
authors: Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100193 People's Republic of China.
authors: Baosheng
authors: B
authors: Liao
authors: Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100193 People's Republic of China.
authors: Xiaochen
authors: X
authors: Chen
authors: Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100193 People's Republic of China.
authors: Jianping
authors: J
authors: Han
authors: Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100193 People's Republic of China.
authors: Yang
authors: Y
authors: Dan
authors: Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100193 People's Republic of China.
authors: Lili
authors: L
authors: Wang
authors: Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100193 People's Republic of China.
authors: Wenjing
authors: W
authors: Jiao
authors: Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100193 People's Republic of China.
authors: Jingyuan
authors: J
authors: Song
authors: Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700 People's Republic of China.
authors: Shilin
authors: S
authors: Chen