title: DNA Barcoding Evaluation and Its Taxonomic Implications in the Recently Evolved GenusOberoniaLindl. (Orchidaceae) in China.
abstract: The orchid genusOberoniaLindl., is a taxonomically complex genus characterized by recent species radiations and many closely related species. AllOberoniaspecies are under conservation as listed in the CITES and the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. Given its difficulties in taxonomy and conservation status,Oberoniais an excellent model for developing DNA barcodes. Three analytical methods and five DNA barcoding regions (rbcL, matK, trnH-psbA, ITS, and ITS2) were evaluated on 127 individuals representing 40 species and 1 variety ofOberoniafrom China. All the three plastid candidates tested (rbcL, matK, andtrnH-psbA) have a lower discriminatory power than the nuclear regions (ITS and ITS2), and ITS had the highest resolution rate (82.14%). Two to four combinations of these gene sets were not better than the ITS alone, but when considering modes of inheritance,rbcL+ITS andmatK+ITS were the best barcodes for identifyingOberoniaspecies. Furthermore, the present barcoding system has many new insights in the currentOberoniataxonomy, such as correcting species identification, resolving taxonomic uncertainties, and the underlying presence of new or cryptic species in a genus with a complex speciation history.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Plant Resources Conservation and Sustainable Utilization, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of SciencesGuangzhou, China; College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijing, China.
authors.forename: Yuling
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Chenshan Plant Science Research Center, Chinese Academy of SciencesShanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics and Resources, Shanghai Chenshan Botanical GardenShanghai, China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Plant Resources Conservation and Sustainable Utilization, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Fuwu
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Xing
keywords: DNA barcoding; ITS; Oberonia; radiation; species identification; taxonomy