Population genetic structure of the Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis): Implications for management and conservation

Understanding the population genetic structure is a prerequisite for conservation of a species. The degree of genetic variability characteristic of the mitochondrial DNA control region has been widely exploited in studies of population genetic structure and can be useful in identifying meaningful population subdivisions. To estimate the genetic profile of the Yangtze finless porpoise (Neophocaena phocaenoides asiaeorientalis), an endangered freshwater population endemic to China, the complete mtDNA control region was examined in 39 individuals belonging to seven different stocks inhabiting the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. Very low genetic diversity was found (nucleotide diversity 0.0011 +/- 0.0002 and haplotypic diversity 0.65 +/- 0.05). The mtDNA genetic pattern of the Yangtze population appears to indicate a founder event in its evolutionary history and to support the marine origin for this population. Analyses by F-st and Phi(st) yielded statistically significant population genetic structure (F-st = 0.44, P < 0.05; phi(st) = 0.36, P < 0.05). These results may have significant implications for the management and conservation of the Yangtze finless porpoise in the future.

Cytoplasmic impact on cross-genus cloned fish derived from transgenic common carp (Cyprinus carpio) nuclei and goldfish (Carassius auratus) enucleated eggs

In previous studies of nuclear transplantation, most cloned animals were obtained by intraspecies nuclear transfer and are phenotypically identical to their nuclear donors; furthermore, there was no further report on successful fish cloning since the report of cloned zebrafish. Here we report the production of seven cross-genus cloned fish by transferring nuclei from transgenic common carp into enucleated eggs of goldfish. Nuclear genomes of the cloned fish were exclusively derived from the nuclear donor species, common carp, whereas the mitochondrial DNA from the donor carp gradually disappeared during the development of nuclear transfer (NT) embryos. The somite development process and somite number of nuclear transplants were consistent with the recipient species, goldfish, rather than the nuclear donor species, common carp. This resulted in a long-lasting effect on the vertebral numbers of the cloned fish, which belonged to the range of goldfish. These demonstrate that fish egg cytoplasm not only can support the development driven by transplanted nuclei from a distantly related species at the genus scale but also can modulate development of the nuclear transplants.

Silver carp, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, in the Poyang Lake belong to the Ganjiang River population rather than the Changjiang River population

The Poyang Lake is the largest lake and the main nursery area in the middle basin of the Changjiang (Yangtze) River. We compared molecular genetic markers of silver carp among populations of the Changjiang River, the Ganjiang River and the Poyang Lake using the ND5/6 region of mtDNA. Analysis of restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) of this region revealed distinct variation between the Ganjiang River and the Changjiang River populations. The Poyang Lake is linked with the Ganjiang River and the Changjiang River. Shared RFLP fragments between the Ganjiang River population and the Poyang Lake population are as high as 61.4%. The value is 47.74% between the populations of the Changjiang River and that of the Poyang Lake. Frequencies of bands peculiar to the Ganjiang River population are the same as in the Poyang Lake population. We conclude that the Poyang Lake silver carp population consists mainly of the Ganjiang River population. The water level of the Poyang Lake outlet, which is higher than that of the Changjiang River in the silver carp spawning season, supports this conclusion.

Molecular systematics of Xenocyprinae (Teleostei : Cyprinidae): Taxonomy, biogeography, and coevolution of a special group restricted in east Asia

We surveyed mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence variation in the subfamily Xenocyprinae from China and used these data to estimate intraspecific, interspecific, and intergeneric phylogeny and assess biogeographic scenarios underlying the geographic structure of lineages. We sequenced 1140 bp of cytochrome b from 30 individuals of Xenocyprinae and one putative outgroup (Myxocypris asiaticus) and also sequenced 297 bp of ND4L, 1380 bp of ND4, 68 bp of tRNA(His), and 69 bp of tRNA(Ser) from 17 individuals of Xenocyprinae and the outgroup (M. asiaticus). We detected high levels of nucleotide variation among populations, species, and genera. The phylogenetic analysis suggested that Distoechodon hupeinensis might be transferred to the genus Xenocypris, the taxonomic status of the genus Plagiognathops might be preserved, and species of Xenocypris and Plagiognathops form a monophyletic group that is sister to the genus Distoechodon and Pseudobrama. The introgressive hybridization might occur among the populations of X. argentea and X. davidi, causing the two species to not be separated by mtDNA patterns according to their species identification, and the process and direction of hybridization are discussed. The spatial distributions of mtDNA lineages among populations of Xenocypris were compatible with the major geographic region, which indicated that the relationship between Hubei + Hunan and Fujian is closer than that between Hubei + Hunan and Sichuan, From a perspective of parasite investigation, our data suggested that the fauna of Hexamita in Xenocyprinae could be used to infer the phylogeny of their hosts. (C) 2001 Academic Press.

白腹鼠属（Niviventer）分子系统发育关系和小家鼠（Mus musculus）分子系统地理学研究

本工作用线粒体细胞色素b基因全序列探讨了白腹鼠属（Niviventer）分子系统发育关系，利用线粒体控制区全序列研究小家鼠（Mus musculus）在中国的分子系统地理学。 在白腹鼠属的分子系统发育研究中，本研究首次对来自青藏高原东南部和台湾的9种（安氏白腹鼠、川西白腹鼠、社鼠、刺毛鼠、梵鼠、灰腹鼠、褐尾鼠、台湾白腹鼠和台湾社鼠）32个个体的细胞色素b全序列进行了测定和分析。用最大简约法、最大似然法和贝叶斯法三种构树方法构出的进化树一致表明，9种分为3个线粒体DNA系：系A包括社鼠、台湾社鼠、台湾白腹鼠、刺毛鼠、梵鼠和灰腹鼠6种；系B包括安氏白腹鼠和川西白腹鼠2种；系C仅包括褐尾鼠一种。应用DNA分类的分析方法表明台湾社鼠不应是社鼠的亚种，而应是一个独立的种。此外，以来自更新世中晚期（1.2-0.13百万年）的社鼠化石为依据推算该属的分歧时间。结果表明该属的起源于1.64百万年前，系A和系B分化发生在1.46百万年以前，该属的其余物种分化时间为1.29-0.67百万年前。这些分化时间和青藏高原的最后一次隆起、昆黄运动以及第四纪大冰期时间相一致，提示地理隔离和冰期作用可能对该属的形成演化起到重要的作用。 在小家鼠的分子系统地理学研究中，通过测定来自中国12个采集地的184只小家鼠的控制区全序列，并结合了Genbank里的单倍型，首次研究小家鼠在中国的分子系统地理格局、种群历史和生物地理过程。184个样品定义了66个单倍型，单倍型多样性为0.95，核苷酸多样性为0.012。用66个单倍型及Genbank里来自周边国家的62个小家鼠单倍型进行分子系统发育分析，邻接法和贝叶斯法构得的分子系统发育树基本一致。结果表明小家鼠在中国分为两个线粒体DNA系（南方系和北方系）。分子变异等级分析结果表明主要的分子变异发生在两个线粒体DNA系之间（84.03%）。根据研究结果推断长江是两个线粒体DNA系之间基因交流受限的主要地理障碍。单倍型进化网络关系表明两个线粒体DNA是异域扩散。两个系的单倍型歧点分布图呈钟型分布，说明经历了快速的种群扩散。经推算小家鼠在中国北方系的种群扩散时间为16 600（22 000－11 000）年前，而南方系的种群扩散时间早于北方系，扩散时间为20 000（40 000－6 700）年前。依据单倍型和核苷酸的多样性、单倍型进化网络关系以及单倍型歧点分布图综合推断小家鼠在中国的两个系在末冰期时经历了快速的种群扩张导致今天的地理分布格局。根据系统发育树的结果推断，北方系种群的大体扩散方向是从北往南，而南方系是从南往北迁移。小家鼠以长江为界分为南方系和北方系的系统地理模式、扩散方向和种群的扩散时间与人以长江为界分为南方人和北方人、扩散方向、扩散时间（60 000－16 000）基本一致，这可能暗示人类活动对小家鼠的迁移产生的重要影响。

哀牢髭蟾（Vibrissaphora ailaonica）和红瘰疣螈(Tylototriton verrucosus)的分子系统地理学研究

本研究用线粒体细胞色素b 基因全序列和ND4 基因序列探讨了哀牢髭蟾 （Vibrissaphora ailaonica）分子亲缘地理学和保护遗传学，利用线粒体细胞色素b、 控制区全序列和部分12SrRNA 基因序列研究了分布于中国的红瘰疣螈 （Tylototriton verrucosus）分子亲缘地理学和保护遗传学。 哀牢髭蟾为生活于高海拔生境（大约2000-2600m）的濒危蛙类。各种致危因 素引起了关于对小的、隔离种群长期存活的关注，然而迄今没有关于该物种遗传 多样性的报道。本论文首次研究了分布于中国云南省的哀牢髭蟾的亲缘地理学和 保护遗传学。对采自于9 个种群81 个个体，我们应用线粒体mtDNA cyt b 和 ND4 基因共计1990bp, 获得了51 个单倍型。系统发育分析显示三个分化较深且互为单 系的族群，大致相应于分别被元江和藤条江河谷分开的三个地理单元（元江以东、 金平和藤条江以西地理单元），暗示了长期的地理隔离分化。分子变异等级分析 （AMOVA）显示遗传变异主要为三个地理单元之间（81.68％）和种群内的个体之 间（11.26%）。三个地理单元显著的地理分布暗示在空间和时间上的隔离，这与中 国西南地区在晚中新世到上新世的哀牢山的造山运动和隆升所引起的重要的气候 和古地质变化时间相一致。我们推测低海拔干热河谷可能是三个地理单元之间基 因交流受限的主要生态障碍。根据上述研究结果，我们建议对这三个遗传分化显 著的地理单元，元江以东地区、金平地区、藤条江以西地区作为独立的管理单元 分别加以保护。 本研究通过测定中国横断山区的红瘰疣螈（Tylototriton verrucosus）17个采集 点的123个红瘰疣螈标本的线粒体mtDNA Cyt b、D-loop和12SrRNA三个基因片段 (2347 bp)序列，首次研究了红瘰疣螈在横断山区的群体遗传结构和分子系统地理格 局，并讨论了T. shanjing的物种有效性。基于123个样品定义的49个单倍型的贝叶 斯和NJ系统发育分析表明：(1) T. verrucosus和T. shanjing均未各自构成单系，而是 共同构成一个单系群;(2) 横断山区的红瘰疣螈分为3个线粒体DNA地理单元，即滇 东南、滇中-滇西和片马地理单元，并且地理单元间不存在共享单倍型，说明红瘰 疣螈具有明显的系统地理分布格局。AMOVA分析同样表明3个地理单元之间存在 显著差异，并且分子变异主要发生在3个地理单元间（62.4%）。T. shanjing与T.verrucosus的mtDNA cyt b 序列差异平均值仅为1.1％,明显小于它们与两外群(贵 州疣螈和大凉疣螈)及外群间的遗传距离(6.5-9.9%)。因此，根据T. verrucosus和 T.shanjing的遗传差异以及系统发育分析结果都不支持T. shanjing的物种地位,T. shanjing为T. verrucosus的同物异名，并建议恢复T. verrucosus的中文名红瘰疣螈。 基于上述结果，我们建议将分布于滇东南、滇中－滇西、片马地区的红瘰疣螈作 为三个独立的管理单元分别加以保护。

香港地区湍蛙遗传多样性研究

依据线粒体上ND2和CO1两个变异较大的基因序列分析了香港地区香港湍蛙7种群、华南湍蛙1种群，以及大陆其他地区华南湍蛙7种群，戴云湍蛙1种群，武夷湍蛙1种群的系统发育关系，进而探讨香港湍蛙的遗传多样性、香港湍蛙特有性、如何确定香港湍蛙最佳保护单元以及这四种湍蛙的物种分类地位。 1． 香港湍蛙保护遗传学研究 香港湍蛙核苷酸传多样性较低，从其遗传多样性信息、单倍型网络分析、中性检验值以及岐点分布结果一致显示香港湍蛙很可能经历了瓶颈后的扩张，种群正在由一个较小的有效种群大小迅速增长, 有足够的时间通过变异用于积累单倍型的多态性, 而对于提高核苷酸多样化而言, 时间尚短（Nei M et al，1975，Avise J C，2000；李明等，2003）。 分子变异分析结果显示香港湍蛙种群间存在较多的基因交流，且系统发育树上各种群间交叉在一起，没有形成与地理单元相关的分支，而从其单倍型网络看，他们源于共同的祖先，是一个单系群，与地理单元间没有形成显著的遗传分化。因此应作为一个进化显著单元（ESU）。结合其与其他湍蛙发育关系及遗传距离以及野外采集信息认为香港湍蛙只在香港地区有分布，属于香港特有种。该物种内遗传多样性较低，又属于世界自然保护联盟红皮书中的近危种，同时也是《野生动物保护条例》中的受保护野生动物，且由于香港城市建设等使得其栖息环境受到威胁，因此在香港特别行政区应该受到重点保护。 从单倍型分布和核苷酸多样性可以看出大榄涌种群和城门种群具有较高的单倍型多样性和核苷酸多样性，应该作为保护的重点区域。 2. 华南湍蛙东、南沿海种群间系统关系 华南湍蛙分布广，各种群存在着丰富的遗传多样性信息且中部种群广西龙胜和湖南张家界种群核苷酸多样性明显高于其他边缘种群华南湍蛙。种群间几乎没有基因交流，且各种群间无共享单倍型，可见已形成了显著的遗传分化。各种群间遗传距离都较远，其中广东南昆山种群以及福建三港种群与其他种群距离最远，因此可以推测其他种群（广东深圳、香港大屿山、广西龙胜和防城以及湖南张家界种群）可能为独立进化的种群。但是否是一新种或一隐存种，还需要结合形态学进行更深入的研究。 本研究中无论从系统关系看还是从遗传距离看，大屿山种群与深圳种群最近，支持陈坚峰等将其定为华南湍蛙，即华南湍蛙新增一个分布点：香港大屿山。 系统树上广西防城种群（支B）与龙胜和湖南种群（支A）形成姐妹群。香港大屿山种群与深圳种群先形成姐妹群（支C），但却没有与其距离很近的广东南岭及南昆山种群（支D）形成姐妹群，可能粤北和粤中的环境及气候较复杂因此与粤南其他种群形成了明显的隔离。同时可以看出华南湍蛙种群遗传分化与地理距离没有显著的相关性。 3. 四种湍蛙间的系统关系 根据线粒体CO1基因建立四种湍蛙间的系统关系及其遗传距离，很清楚地看到，香港湍蛙与戴云湍蛙关系很近，而华南湍蛙则与武夷湍蛙较近。然而，戴云湍蛙同一个种群内部共有两个单倍型DY1和DY2，且两个单倍型间遗传距离大于DY1与香港湍蛙间遗传距离，更远远大于香港湍蛙种群内部的距离，即戴云湍蛙内部两个单倍型间遗传距离达到了种级水平，同样在系统发育树上这两个单倍型与香港湍蛙形成并系。但是，戴云湍蛙种内在形态上差异不显著。因此，其是否属于萌芽物种分化形成（budding speciation）或已经完全分化为两个不同的种值得进一步研究？ 与戴云湍蛙香港湍蛙关系类似，从系统树上看华南湍蛙不形成单系，而是分成两个大支，与武夷湍蛙形成并系，且福建和南昆山的华南湍蛙与武夷湍蛙遗传距离远大于武夷湍蛙种内福建种群与浙江种群的遗传距离，达到了种级分化水平。由此，可以推断武夷湍蛙是有效种。系统树上广东深圳、香港大屿山、广西防城和龙胜以及湖南张家界种群与华南湍蛙福建及南昆山各种群间遗传距离已超出了种内各种群间的遗传距离，但是至于这一支是否应为另外一个种，有必要扩大采样，并结合核基因及形态信息进行进一步研究。 MtDNA of ND2 and CO1 gene were used to investigate genetic diversity of Amolops in Hongkong .We collected seven populations of A. hongkongensis,，one population of A.ricketti from Hong Kong and other seven populations of A.ricketti from East and South of Chinese mainland. As well as one population of A. daiyunensis and one population of A.wuyiensis Phylogenetic relationship were analyzed of four species. Discussed whether A.hongkongensis is an endemic species and how can we make the conservation and management decisions. 1. Conservation Genetics of A. hongkongensis A. hongkongensis has a low nucleotide diversity, the results of genetic diversity, haplotype network, neutrality test and the mismatch distributions indicate that A. hongkongensis experienced a recent expansion after a bottle neck. They had enough time to accumulated haplotype diversity, but it’s too short to have a high nucleotide diversity（Nei M et al，1975，Avise J C，2000；Li et al，2003）. The result of AMOVA reveals that it has much gene exchange among the populations of A. hongkongensis. The clades of the phylogenetic tree were mixed together, no significant genetic differentiation among 8 populations and they share the same ancestor from the network analysis, these indicate that they are monophyly and should be protected as one ESU. Combined with the information of relationships of interspecies, genetic distance and distribution investigate, We conclude that A. hongkongensis is an endemic species of Hong Kong. Considering on the status of low genetic diversity in A.hongkongensis, and this species was listed in the IUCN red list as near threatened, as well as listed in the . Furthermore, it’s habitat loss and degradation more rapidly as the human activity got higher and higher. So it’s urgent to protect them in Hong Kong. Our results suggest that Tai Lam Wu and TAI MO Shan -Shing Mun populations have the higher priority to be protected because their higher genetic diversity. 2．Phylogenetic relationships among populations of Amolops ricketti from the Southern and eastern China A. ricketti has the considerable genetic diversity of mitochondrial haplotypes within and among populations, and Mitochondrial DNA diversity was higher in populations at the central area of the present distribution range of the frog，i. e. the Longsheng population and Zhangjiajie population, than at the edges of their distribution range. They have no share haplotype among populations, and have a significant genetic differentiation. Genetic distance is high among the populations, especially the distance of Nankun and Sangang group with others, which suggested that they evolved independently. May be there is a cryptic species or a new species, a further study is needed. The results of gene tree and the genetic distance clearly demonstrate that the population from LanTau island is A. ricketti, so we agree with Chen et al(2005) . That means A.ricketti have a new distribution site: LanTau island, HongKong. Phylogenetic relationships were analyzed through NJ and Mrbayes methods and got a consistent topological structure, the structure indicated that the ingroup were comprised four groups. Populations Longsheng and Zhangjiajie were first clustered as clade A; Populations Fangcheng was clustered together (clade B) as a sister group to clade A；Populations Shenzhen and Lantau island were sister groups and clustered as clade C；Then the clade D included populations Nankunshan and Nanling in Guangdong province and Sangang in Fujian province. 3. Phylogenetic Relationships among these four specises Phylogenetic relationships based on 1503bp CO1 gene and the genetic distance show that A. hongkongensis close to A. daiyunensis whereas A.ricketti near to A.wuyiensis. Nevertheless, there are two haplotypes in A.daiyunensis and the genetic distance between them higher than the distance between DY1 with A. hongkongensis. A. hongkongensis is nested in the paraphyletic ancestral species A. daiyunensis. Without significant difference in the morphological characters, So, we considered both A.daiyunensis and A.hongkongensis are valid species, may be this represents a case of ‘budding speciation’ like Batrachuperus pinchonii(Fu and Zeng,2008) in the population of A. daiyunensis. Just like two species above A. wuyiensis and A. ricketti are not monophyly, instead, A.wuyiensis is nested in the paraphyletic ancestral species A.ricketti. We need do more research to make sure whether they are new species.

青稞B组醇溶蛋白基因与上游调控区的克隆及基因表达

高等植物种子胚乳贮藏蛋白是种子发芽时的主要氮源，也是人类和动物食用植物蛋白的主要来源。大麦种子胚乳贮藏蛋白主要是醇溶蛋白（hordeins），占大麦胚乳总蛋白的50–60%。根据大麦醇溶蛋白的大小和组成特点，大麦醇溶蛋白被划分为三种类型：富硫蛋白亚类(B，γ-hordeins)、贫硫蛋白亚类（C-hordeins)以及高分子量蛋白亚类(D-hordeins)。B组和C组醇溶蛋白是大麦胚乳的两类主要贮藏蛋白，它们分别占大麦总醇溶蛋白成分的70–80%和10–12%。遗传分析表明，大麦B、C、D和γ-组醇溶蛋白分别是由位于大麦第五染色体1H（5）上的Hor2、Hor1、Hor3和Hor5位点编码。Hor2位点编码大量分子量相同但组成不同的B组醇溶蛋白（B-hordein）。B-hordein的种类、数量和分布是影响大麦酿造、食用及饲养品质的重要因素之一。为深入了解B-hordein基因家族的结构和染色体组织，探明Hor2位点基因表达的发育调控机制，最终达到改良禾谷类作物籽粒品质的目的，本研究以青藏高原青稞为材料，采用同源克隆法，分别克隆B-hordein基因和启动子，通过原核生物表达验证B-hordein基因功能，并利用实时定量PCR探索B-hordein基因表达时空关系，取得如下研究结果： 1. 以具有特殊B组醇溶蛋白亚基组成的9份青藏高原青稞为材料，根据GenBank中三个B-hordein基因序列（GenBank No. X03103, X53690和X53691）设计一对引物，通过PCR扩增，获得23个B-hordein基因克隆并对其进行了序列分析。核苷酸序列分析表明，所有克隆均包含完整的开放阅读框。有11个克隆都存在一个框内终止密码子，推测这11个克隆可能是假基因。推测的氨基酸序列分析表明，所有大麦B-hordein具有相似的蛋白质基本结构，均包括一个高度保守的信号肽、中间重复区以及C-端结构域。不同大麦种重复区内重复基元的数目有较大差异。青稞材料Z07–2和Z26的B-hordeins仅具有12个重复基元结构，更接近于野生大麦。这些重复基元数目的差异导致了重复区序列长度和结构的变异。这种现象极可能是由于醇溶谷蛋白基因在进化过程中染色体的不平衡交换或复制滑动所造成的。对所克隆基因和禾本科代表性醇溶谷蛋白基因进行聚类分析，结果表明所有来自栽培大麦的B-hordeins聚类成一个亚家族，来自野生大麦的B-hordeins以及普通小麦的LMW-GS聚类成另外一个亚家族，表明这两个亚家族的成员存在显著差异。此外，我们发现B-hordein基因推测的C-末端序列具有一些有规律的特征：即具有相同C-末端序列的B-hordein基因在系统发生树中聚类为同一个亚组（除BXQ053，BZ09-1，BZ26-5分别单独聚为一类外）。这个特征将有助于我们对所有B组醇溶蛋白基因家族成员进行分类，避免了在SDS-PAGE电泳图谱上仅依靠大小分类的局限性。 2. 根据上述克隆的青稞B-hordein基因的5’端序列设计三条基因特异的反向引物，以青稞Z09和Z26的基因组DNA为模板，采用SON-PCR和TAIL-PCR技术分离克隆出8个B-hordein基因的上游调控序列（命名为Z09P和Z26P）。序列分析表明，推测的TATA box位于–80 bp，CAAT–like box位于–140 bp处。此外，Z09P和Z26P中有六个序列在–300 bp处均存在一个由高度保守的EM基序和类GCN4基序构成的胚乳盒(Endosperm Box，EB)，在约–560 bp处存在一个胚乳盒类似结构。而Z09P-2和Z26P-3不存在保守的胚乳盒或其类似结构，预示着这两个启动子所调控的基因表达可能受不同类型反式作用因子的调节，推测该启动子对基因的表达调控具有多样性。 3. 将B-hordein基因的开放阅读框定向克隆到表达载体pET-30a中，将其导入大肠杆菌表达菌株BL21中进行外源基因的诱导表达以验证所克隆基因的功能。结果表明仅含重组子pET-BZ07-2和pET-BZ26-5的BL21细菌有目的表达蛋白产生。在诱导3 h时的蛋白表达量最高；3 mM IPTG诱导的蛋白表达量要高于1 mM IPTG诱导的表达量。这为分离纯化B-hordein蛋白以及进一步研究其对大麦籽粒品质的影响奠定基础。 4. 根据从青稞Z09和Z26中分离克隆的B-hordein基因序列设计一对基因特异的引物，同时，选择大麦α-微管蛋白基因（GenBank no. U40042）为看家基因并设计特异引物，利用实时荧光定量PCR检测了青稞籽粒4个胚乳发育时间段的B-hordein基因表达，荧光定量结果显示：两份材料中B-hordein基因的表达量均随发育过程的进行而逐渐升高。Z09中B-hordein基因在开花后7天开始转录，而Z26开花4天后就有低水平B-hordein的表达，这表明Z26中B-hordein基因可能比Z09表达的较早或者Z09中B-hordein基因表达水平较低以致于不能被检测到。此外，在4个不同的胚乳发育时期中，Z26中B-hordein基因的表达量均高于Z09材料。在开花12天到18天的过程中，Z09和Z26中B-hordein基因的表达水平有一个急剧性的升高。这说明在不同胚乳发育时期，Hor2位点的B-hordein等位基因变异体存在mRNA的差异表达。 Seed endosperm storage proteins in higher plants are the main resources of nitrogen for germinating and plant proteins for human and animals. Barley prolamins (also called hordeins) are the major storage proteins in the endosperm and account for 50–60% of total proteins. Hordeins are classically divided into three groups: sulphur-rich (B, γ-hordeins), sulphur-poor (C-hordeins) and high molecular weight (HMW, D-hordeins) hordeins based on the size and composition. B-hordeins and C-hordeins are two major groups and each respectively account for about 70-80% and 10-12% of the total hordein fraction in barley endosperm. Genetic analysis showed that B-, C-, C-, γ-hordeins are encoded by Hor2, Hor1, Hor3 and Hor5 locus on the chromosome 1H (5). Hor2 locus is rich in alleles that encode numerous heterogeneous B-hordein polypeptides. It is reported that B-hordein species, quantity and distribution are significant factors affecting malting, food and feed quality of barley. To understand comprehensively the structure and organization of B-hordein gene family in hull-less barley and explore the developmental control mechanisms of Hor2 locus gene expression and eventually to better exploitation in crop grain quality improvement, we isolated and cloned B-hordein genes and promotors of hull-less barley from Qinghai-Tibet Plateau by PCR, and testified their expression founction in bacteria expression system and explore their spatial and temporal expression pattern by quantitative real time PCR. Our results are as followed, 1. Twenty-three copies of B-hordein gene were cloned from nine hull-less barley cultivars of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau with special B-hordein subunits and molecularly characterized by PCR, based on three B-hordein genes published previously (GenBank No. X03103, X53690 and X53691). DNA sequences analyses confirmed that the six clones all contained a full-length coding region of the barley B-hordein genes. Eleven clones all contain an in-frame stop codon and they are probably pseudogenes. The analysis of deduced amino acid sequences of the genes shows that they have similar structures including signal peptide domain, central repetitive domain, and C-terminal domain. The number of the repeats was largerly variable and resulted in polypeptides in different sizes or structures among the genes. Twelve such repeated motifs were found in Z07–2 and Z26, and they are close to those of the wild barleys, and it is most probably caused by unequal crossing-over and/or slippage during replication as suggested for the evolution of other prolamins. The relatedness of prolamin genes of barley and wheat was assessed in the phylogenetic tree based on their polypeptides comparison. Our phylogenetic analysis suggested that the predicted B-hordeins of cultivated barley formed a subfamily, while the B-hordeins of wild barleys and the two most similar sequences of LMW-GS of T. aestivum formed another subfamily. This result indicated that the members of the two subfamilys have a distinctive difference. In addition, we found the B-hordeins with identical C-terminal end sequences were clustered into a same subgroup (except BXQ053，BZ09-1 and BZ26-5 as a sole group, respectively), so we believe that B-hordein gene subfamilies possibly can be classified on the basis of the conserved C-terminal end sequences of predicted polypeptide and without the limit of SDS-PAGE protein banding patterns. 2. The specific primers were designed according to the published sequences of barley B-hordein genes from Z09 and Z26. Using total DNA isolated from them as the templates, eight clones (designated Z09Pand Z26P) of upstream sequences of the known B-hordein genes was obtained by TAIL-PCR and SON-PCR. Sequences analysis shows that the putative TATA box was present at position –80 bp and CAAT-like box at position –140 bp. Besides, a putative Endosperm Box including an Endosperm Motif (EM) and a GCN4-Like Motif was found at position –300 bp in six clones, and another Endosperm-like box was found at positon –560 bp. While the Endosperm Box or Endosperm-like box was not found in Z09P-2 and Z26P-3. This may indicate that gene expression drived by the two promtors was probably controlled by different trans-acting factors and the genetic control mechanism of corresponding gene expression may be diverse. 3. The B-hordein genic region coding for the mature peptide was cloned into expression vector pET-30a and transformed into bacterial strain BL21 for identifying gene expression fountion. Protein SDS–PAGE analysis showed that only the transformed lysate with the pET-BZ07-2 and pET-BZ26-5 constructs produced proteins related to B-group hordeins of barley, and the mounts of proteins induced by 3 mM IPTG and 3 h were higher than other conditions. This established a base for isolating and putifying B-hordein and further exploring their effects on barley grain quality. 4. The gene-specific primers of B-hordein genes from Z09 and Z26 were used for the quantification of B-hordein gene expression. The α-tubulin gene from Hordeum vulgare subsp. vulgare (GenBank accession number U40042) was used as a control gene. The result shows the transcription of the B-hordein genes in Z09 was found 7 days after flowering, while the transcription of the B-hordein genes in Z26 was found 4 days after flowering, but at a very low level, and it suggested that the B-hordein genes in Z26 probably expressed earlier than those in Z09, or the B-hordein genes in Z09 expressed at so a lower level than Z26 that it can not detected. In addition, B-hordein genes in Z26 accession showed higher expression levels than those in Z09 in four developing stages. Furthermore, a progressive increase in the expression levels of the B-hordein genes between 12 and 18 days after anthesis was observed in both Z09 and Z26. It implies that the B-hordein allelic variants encoded by Hor2 locus exist the differential expression in mRNA levels of during barley endosperm development.

中国青藏高原青稞抗穗发芽资源评价与α-淀粉酶基因的克隆及表达

穗发芽（PHS，preharvest sprouting）是影响禾本科作物生产的重要的灾害之一。收获时期如遇潮湿天气容易导致穗发芽发生。发生穗发芽的种子内部水解酶（主要是α-淀粉酶）活性急剧升高，胚乳贮藏物质开始降解，造成作物产量和品质严重降低。因此，选育低穗发芽风险的品种是当前作物育种工作中面临的重要任务。 青稞(Hordeum vulgare ssp. vulgare)主要分布于青藏高原，自古以来就是青藏高原人民的主要粮食。近年来，由于青稞丰富的营养成分和特有的保健品质、在燃料工业中的潜力以及在啤酒酿造工业中的利用前景，在发达国家日趋受到重视，掀起综合研究利用的热潮。我国拥有占全世界2/3 以上的青稞资源，具有发展青稞产业的得天独厚的条件。然而，由于青稞收获期间恰逢青藏高原雨季来临，常有穗发芽灾害发生，使青稞生产损失巨大。目前对青稞穗发芽研究很少，适用于育种的穗发芽抗性材料相对缺乏，不能很好的满足青稞穗发芽抗性育种的需要。本研究以青藏高原青稞为材料，对其穗发芽抗性的评价指标和体系进行构建，同时筛选青稞抗穗发芽品种并对其抗性进行评价，还利用分子生物学手段对青稞穗发芽抗性的分子机理进行了初步探讨。主要研究结果如下： 1. 本试验以来自于我国青藏高原地区的青稞为材料，对休眠性测定的温度范围进行探讨，并对各种穗发芽抗性测定方法的对青稞的适用性进行评测。通过探讨温度对13 个不同基因型的青稞籽粒发芽和休眠性表达的影响，对筛选青稞抗穗发芽资源的温度条件进行探索，并初步分析了其休眠性表达的机理。在10，15，20，25，30℃的黑暗条件下，选用新收获的13 个青稞品种为材料进行籽粒发芽实验，以发芽指数（GI）评价其休眠性。结果发现，不同品种对温度敏感性不同，其中温度不敏感品种，在各温度条件下均表现很低的休眠性；而温度敏感品种，其休眠性表达受低温抑制，受高温诱导。15℃至25℃是进行青稞休眠性鉴定的较适宜的温度范围。通过对供试材料发芽后的α-淀粉酶活性，发现温度对青稞种子的休眠性表达的影响至少在一定程度上表现在对α-淀粉酶活性的调控上。随后，对分别在马尔康和成都进行种植的34 份青稞穗发芽指数（SI），穗发芽率（SR），籽粒发芽指数（GI）和α-淀粉酶活性（AA）进行了测定和分析，发现它们均受基因型×栽培地点的极显著影响，且四个参数之间具有一定相关性。GI 参数由于其变异系数较低，在不同栽培地点稳定性好，且操作简便，是较可靠和理想的穗发芽评价参数。SI 参数可作为辅助，区别籽粒休眠性相似的材料（基因型）或全面评价材料（基因型）的穗发芽抗性特征。AA 参数稳定性较差，并且检测方法复杂，因此不建议在育种及大量材料筛选和评价时使用。此外，青稞穗发芽抗性受环境影响较大，评价时应考虑到尽可能多的抗性影响因素及其在不同栽培条件下的变异。 2. 对来自青藏高原的青稞穗发芽抗性特征及其与其它农艺性状间的关系进行研究。通过测定穗发芽指数（SI）、籽粒发芽指数（GI）和α-淀粉酶活性（AA），表明113 份青稞材料的穗发芽抗性具有显著差异。SI、GI 和AA 参数的变幅分别为1.00~8.86、0.01~0.97 和0.00~2.76，其均值分别为4.72、0.63 和1.22。根据SI 参数，六个基因型，包括‘XQ9-5’，‘XQ33-9’，‘XQ37-5’，‘XQ42-9’，‘XQ45-7’和‘JCL’被鉴定为抗性品种。综合SI、GI 和AA 参数，可以发现青稞的穗发芽抗性机制包含颖壳等穗部结构的抗性和种子自身的抗性（即种子休眠性），且供试材料中未发现较强的胚休眠品种，除‘XQ45-7’外，所有品种在发芽第四天均能检测出α-淀粉酶活性。穗部结构和种子休眠的抗性机制因基因型不同而不同，在穗发芽抗性中可单独作用或共同作用。农家品种和西藏群体分别比栽培品种和四川群体的穗发芽抗性强，而在不同籽粒颜色的青稞中未发现明显差异。相关性检验发现，青稞的穗发芽抗性，主要是种子休眠性，与百粒重、开花期、成熟期、穗长、芒长和剑叶长呈显著负相关关系，与株高相关性不显著。农艺性状可以作为穗发芽抗性材料选育中的辅助指标。本试验为青稞穗发芽抗性育种研究提供了必要的理论基础和可供使用的亲本材料。 3. α-淀粉酶是由多基因家族编码的蛋白质，在植物种子萌发时高度表达，与植物种子的萌发能力密切相关。在大麦种子发芽时，高等电点α-淀粉酶的活性远大于低等电点的α-淀粉酶。为了研究不同穗发芽抗性青稞品种中编码高等电点α-淀粉酶Amy1 基因结构与抗性间的关系，我们以筛选得到的抗性品种‘XQ32-5’（TR1）、‘XQ37-5’（TR2）、‘XQ45-7’（TR3），易感品种‘97-15’（TS1）、‘9657’（TS2）以及强休眠大麦品种‘SAMSON’（SAM）为材料，对其Amy1 基因的编码区序列进行克隆和结构分析，并对它们推导的氨基酸序列进行比较。结果显示，青稞Amy1 基因具有三个外显子、两个内含子，编码区中有13 个核苷酸变异位点，均位于2、3 号外显子，2 个变异位点位于2 号外显子。SAM 和TS1 分别在2 号外显子相应位置有5 个相同的碱基(GAACT)的插入片段。相应α-淀粉酶氨基酸序列推导发现，所有核苷酸变异中有8 个导致相应氨基酸残基的改变，其余位点为同义突变。青稞Amy1 基因编码区序列品种间相似度高达99%以上，部分序列变异可能与其穗发芽抗性有关。随后，我们又通过SYBR Green 荧光定量技术对该基因在不同发芽时间（1d~7d）的相对表达水平进行了差异性检测。结果发现，7 天内不能检测到SAM 的Amy1 基因表达，5 个青稞品种间的Amy1 基因的相对表达量均随着发芽时间延长而上升，但上升方式有所不同。弱抗品种该基因表达更早，转录本增加速率更大，且在4~5 天可达到平台期。发芽7 天中，抗性品种总转录水平明显低于易感品种。本研究结果表明，青稞Amy1 基因的转录水平是与其穗发芽抗性高度相关。 我国青藏高原青稞，尤其是农家品种的穗发芽抗性具有丰富的变异，蕴藏着穗发芽抗性育种的宝贵资源。本研究为青稞穗发芽抗性育种建立了合理抗性评价体系，筛选出可供育种使用的特殊材料，阐明了农艺性状可辅助穗发芽抗性育种，同时还对穗发芽抗性与α-淀粉酶基因的结构和表达关系进行分析，为青稞穗发芽抗性资源筛选奠定了基础。 Preharvest sprouting (PHS) is a serious problem in crop production. It often takes place when encountering damp, cold conditions at harvest time and results in the decrease of grain quality and great loss of yield by triggering the synthesis of endosperm degrading enzymes (mostly the α-amylase). Therefore, PHS is regarded as an important criterion for crop breeding. In order to minimize the risk of PHS, resistant genotypes are highly required. Hulless barley (Hordeum vulgare ssp. vulgare) is the staple food crop in Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau from of old, where is one of the origin and genetic diversity centers of hulless barley. Recently, interest in hulless barley has been sparked throughout the world due to the demonstrations of its great potential in health food industry and fuel alcohol production. Indeed, hulless barley can also be utilized to produce good quality malt if the appropriate malting conditions are used. In China, overcast and rainy conditions often occur at maturity of hulless barley and cause an adverse on its production and application. PHS resistant genotypes, therefore, are highly required for the hulless barley breeding programs. However, few investigations have been made so far on this issue. The objectives of this study were: 1) to assessment of methods used in testing preharvest sprouting resistance in hulless barley; 2) to evaluate the variability and characteristics of PHS resistance of hulless barley from Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in China; 3) to select potential parents for PHS resistance breeding; 4) to primarily study on the molecular mechanism of PHS resistance of hulless barley. Our results are as followed: 1. We investigated the temperature effects on seed germination and seed dormancy expression of hulless barley, discussed appropriate temperature range for screening of PHS resistant varieties, and analyzed the mechanism of seed dormancy expression of hulless barley. The dormancy level of 13 hulless barley were evaluated by GI (germination index) values calculating by seed germination tests at temperature of 10，15，20，25，30℃ in darkness. There were great differences in temperature sensitivity among these accessions. The insensitive accessions showed low dormancy at any temperature while the dormancy expression of sensitive accessions could be restrained by low temperature and induced by high temperature. The temperature range of 15℃ to 25℃ was workable for estimating of dormancy level of hulless barley according to our data. Analysis of α-amylase activity showed that the temperature effects on seed germination and the expression of seed dormancy be achieved probable via regulating of α-amylase activity. Furthermore, we evaluated the differences in sprouting index (SI), sprouting rate (SR), germination index (GI) and α-amylase activity (AA) between Maerkang and Chengdu among 34 accessions of hulless barley from Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau in China. These PHS sprouting parameters were significantly affected by accession×location, and they had correlation between each other. GI was the most reliable parameter because of its low CV value, good repeatability and simple operation. SI could assist in differentiating between accessions of similar dormancy or overall evaluation of the resistance. AA was bad in repeatability and had relatively complex testing method, therefore, not appropriate for breeding and evaluation and screening of PHS resistant materials. Besides, since PHS resistance of hulless barley was greatly influenced by its growth environment, possibly much influencing factors and variations between cultivated conditions should be considered. 2. In this study, large variation was found among 113 genotypes of hulless barley (Hordeum vulgare ssp.vulgare) from Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau in China, based on the sprouting index (SI), germination index (GI) and α-amylase activity (AA) which derived from sprouting test of intact spikes, germination test of threshed seeds and determination of α-amylase activity, respectively. The range of SI, GI and AA was 1.00~8.86, 0.01~0.97 and 0.00~2.76，the mean was 4.72, 0.63 and 1.22 espectively. Six resistant genotypes, including ‘XQ9-5’, ‘XQ33-9’, ‘XQ37-5’, ‘XQ42-9’, ‘XQ45-7’ and ‘JCL’, were identified based on SI. Integrating the three parameters, it was clear that both hulls and seeds involved in PHS resistance in intact spikes of hulless barley and there was no long-existent embryo dormancy found among the test genotypes. All the genotypes, except ‘XQ45-7’, had detectable α-amylase activity on the 4th day after germination. There was PHS resistance imposed by the hull and seed per se and the two factors can act together or independent of each other. Besides, landraces or Tibet hulless barley had a wider variation and relatively more PHS resistance when compared with cultivars or Sichuan hulless barley. No significant difference was found among hulless barley of different seed colors. The correlation analysis showed PHS resistance was negatively related to hundred grain weight, days to flowering, days to maturity, spike length, awn length and flag length but not related to plant height. This study provides essential information and several donor parents for breeding of resistance to PHS. 3. Alpha-amylase isozymes are encoded by a family of multigenes. They highly express in germinating seeds and is closely related to seed germination ability. In barley germinating seeds, the activity of high pI α-amylase is much higher than low pI α-amylase. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between preharvest sprouting resistance of hulless barley and the gene structure of Amy1 gene which encodes high pI α-amylase. The coding region and cDNA of Amy1 gene of three resistant accessions, including ‘XQ32-5’ (TR1), ‘XQ37-5’ (TR2), ‘XQ45-7’ (TR3), two susceptible accessions ‘97-15’ (TS1), ‘9657’ (TS2) and one highly dormant barley accession ‘SAMSON’ (SAM) was cloned. Analysis of their DNA sequences revealed there were three exons and two introns in Amy1 gene. Thirteen variable sites were in exon2 and exon3, 2 variable sites were in intron2. SAM and TS1 had a GAACT insert segment in the same site in intron2. Only 8 variable sites caused the change of amino acid residues. There were 99% of similarity between the tested hulless barley and some of the variable sites might be related with preharvest sprouting resistance. Then, we investigated the expression level of Amy1 gene in the 7-day germination test. Results of quantitative real-time PCR indicated that the relative expression trends of Amy1 gene were the same but had significant differences in the increase fashion between hulless barleys and no detectable expression was found in SAM. Susceptible accessions had earlier expression and faster increase and reached the maximum on day 4 ~ day 5. Besides, total transcripts level was found lower in resistant accessions than susceptible accessions. This study indicated that α-amylase activity was highly related to the transcription level of Amy1 gene which not correlated to missense mutation sites. In conclusion, hulless barley, especially the landraces from Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau in China possesses high degree of variation in PHS performance, which indicates the potential of Tibetan hulless barley as a good source for breeding of resistance to PHS. This study provides several donor parents for breeding of resistance to PHS. Our results also demonstrate that agronomic traits may be used as assistants for PHS resistance selection in hulless barley. Besides, analysis of high pI α-amylase coding gene Amy1 revealed the relative high expression of was Amy1 one of the mainly reason of different PHS resistance level in hulless barley.

Construction and characterization of two bacterial artificial chromosome libraries of Zhikong scallop, Chlamys farreri Jones et Preston, and identification of BAC clones containing the genes involved in its innate immune system

Large-insert bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) libraries are necessary for advanced genetics and genomics research. To facilitate gene cloning and characterization, genome analysis, and physical mapping of scallop, two BAC libraries were constructed from nuclear DNA of Zhikong scallop, Chlamys farreri Jones et Preston. The libraries were constructed in the BamHI and MboI sites of the vector pECBAC1, respectively. The BamHI library consists of 73,728 clones, and approximately 99% of the clones contain scallop nuclear DNA inserts with an average size of 110 kb, covering 8.0x haploid genome equivalents. Similarly, the MboI library consists of 7680 clones, with an average insert of 145 kb and no insert-empty clones, thus providing a genome coverage of 1.1x. The combined libraries collectively contain a total of 81,408 BAC clones arrayed in 212 384-well microtiter plates, representing 9.1x haploid genome equivalents and having a probability of greater than 99% of discovering at least one positive clone with a single-copy sequence. High-density clone filters prepared from a subset of the two libraries were screened with nine pairs of Overgos designed from the cDNA or DNA sequences of six genes involved in the innate immune system of mollusks. Positive clones were identified for every gene, with an average of 5.3 BAC clones per gene probe. These results suggest that the two scallop BAC libraries provide useful tools for gene cloning, genome physical mapping, and large-scale sequencing in the species.

Population genetics of Crassostrea ariakensis in Asia inferred from microsatellite markers

Crassostrea ariakensis is an important aquacultured oyster species in Asia, its native region. During the past decade, consideration was given to introducing C. ariakensis into Chesapeake Bay, in the United States, to help revive the declining native oyster industry and bolster the local ecosystem. Little is known about the ecology and biology of this species in Asia due to confusion with nomenclature and difficulty in accurately identifying the species of wild populations in their natural environment. Even less research has been done on the population genetics of native populations of C. ariakensis in Asia. We examined the magnitude and pattern of genetic differentiation among 10 wild populations of C. ariakensis from its confirmed distribution range using eight polymorphic microsatellite markers. Results showed a small but significant global theta (ST) (0.018), indicating genetic heterogeneity among populations. Eight genetically distinct populations were further distinguished based on population pairwise theta (ST) comparisons, including one in Japan, four in China, and three populations along the coast of South Korea. A significant positive association was detected between genetic and geographic distances among populations, suggesting a genetic pattern of isolation by distance. This research represents a novel observation on wild genetic population structuring in a coastal bivalve species along the coast of the northwest Pacific.

青蟹属的系统进化和中国沿海拟穴青蟹的群体遗传结构研究

为了进一步研究青蟹属系统进化的科学问题，并揭示我国东南沿海青蟹群体遗传结构和群体进化细节信息，本论文主要开展了以下两个方面的研究：（1）基于线粒体12S rRNA、16S rRNA和COI三种基因序列探讨中国东南沿海青蟹的种类归属与青蟹属的系统进化；（2）利用线粒体COI基因标记分析中国东南沿海拟穴青蟹的群体遗传结构。序列特征、遗传距离和系统进化分析结果都表明本文研究的青蟹均为S. paramamosain。NJ、BAYES和ML系统进化树显示S. paramamosain与S. tranquebarica互为姐妹种，S. olivecea应该是4种青蟹中最早分化出来的种类。10个地理群体130只拟穴青蟹的线粒体DNA（mitochondrial DNA，mtDNA）细胞色素氧化酶亚基I（COI）基因序列Mantel检验结果显示群体间的遗传分化程度与地理距离没有显著的相关性。分子进化中性检验结果表明自然选择在分子进化过程中起了重要作用，并暗示该物种在最近经历了一个快速的群体爆发及扩张事件。

Phylogeography of Pinus tabulaeformis Carr. (Pinaceae), a dominant species of coniferous forest in northern China

How coniferous trees in northern China changed their distribution ranges in response to Quaternary climatic oscillations remains largely unknown. Here we report a study of the phylogeography of Pinus tabulaeformis, an endemic and dominant species of coniferous forest in northern China. We examined sequence variation of maternally inherited, seed-dispersed mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) (nad5 intron 1 and nad4/3-4) and paternally inherited, pollen- and seed-dispersed chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) (rpl16 and trnS-trnG) within and among 30 natural populations across the entire range of the species. Six mitotypes and five chlorotypes were recovered among 291 trees surveyed. Population divergence was high for mtDNA variation (G(ST) = 0.738, N-ST = 0.771) indicating low levels of seed-based gene flow and significant phylogeographical structure (N-ST > G(ST), P < 0.05). The spatial distribution of mitotypes suggests that five distinct population groups exist in the species: one in the west comprising seven populations, a second with a north-central distribution comprising 15 populations, a third with a southern and easterly distribution comprising five populations, a fourth comprising one central and one western population, and a fifth comprising a single population located in the north-central part of the species' range. Each group apart from the fourth group is characterized by a distinct mitotype, with other mitotypes, if present, occurring at low frequency. It is suggested, therefore, that most members of each group apart from Group 4 are derived from ancestors that occupied different isolated refugia in a previous period of range fragmentation of the species, possibly at the time of the Last Glacial Maximum. Possible locations for these refugia are suggested. A comparison of mitotype diversity between northern and southern subgroups within the north-central group of populations (Group 2) showed much greater uniformity in the northern part of the range both within and between populations. This could indicate a northward migration of the species from a southern refugium in this region during the postglacial period, although alternative explanations cannot be ruled out. Two chlorotypes were distributed across the geographical range of the species, resulting in lower levels of among-population chlorotype variation. The geographical pattern of variation for all five chlorotypes provided some indication of the species surviving past glaciations in more than one refugium, although differentiation was much less marked, presumably due to the greater dispersal of cpDNA via pollen.

Molecular authentication of the traditional Tibetan medicinal plant Swertia mussotii

Swertia mussotii is an important species in Tibetan folk medicine. However, it is quite expensive and frequently adulterated, so reliable methods for authentication of putative specimens and preparations of the species are needed to protect consumers and to support conservation measures. We show here that the chloroplast (cp) DNA rpl16 intron has limited utility for differentiating S. mussotii from closely related species, since the cpDNA rpl16 sequences are identical in S. mussotii and two other species of Swertia. However, the rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences differ significantly between S. mussotii and all of 13 tested potential adulterants. Thus, the ITS region provides a robust molecular marker for differentiating the medicinal S. mussotii from related adulterants. Therefore, a pair of allele-specific diagnostic primers based on the divergent ITS region was designed to distinguish S. mussotii from the other species. Authentication by allele-specific diagnostic PCR using these primers is convenient, effective and both simpler and less time-consuming than sequencing the ITS region.