Use of rbcL and trnL-F as a Two-Locus DNA Barcode for Identification of NW-European Ferns: An Ecological Perspective

摘要: Although consensus has now been reached on a general two-locus DNA barcode for land plants, the selected combination of markers (rbcL + matK) is not applicable ferns at moment. Yet especially ferns, barcoding potentially great value since fern gametophytes—while playing an essential role in colonization and reproduction—generally lack morphological complexity morphology-based identification have therefore underappreciated ecological studies. We evaluated potential rbcL with noncoding plastid marker, trnL-F, to obtain DNA-identifications species. A regional approach was adopted, by creating reference database trusted trnL-F sequences wild-occurring homosporous NW-Europe. parsimony analyses distance-based performed evaluate discriminatory power two-region barcode. successfully extracted from 86 tiny gametophytes used as test case performance DNA-based identification. Primer universality proved high both markers. Based combined dataset, all genera well species non-equal chloroplast genomes formed their own supported monophyletic clade, indicating power. Interspecific distances were larger than intraspecific tested taxa. Identification tests showed comparable result. All samples could be identified genus level, possible unless they belonged pair Dryopteris completely identical genomes. Our results suggest use cpDNA may preferred tests. here offer such ready-to-use which opens way answering whole range questions previously unaddressed gametophyte ecology.