高山植物条纹狭蕊龙胆的分子亲缘地理学研究

草本植物由于较短的生活周期以及对环境变化的敏感性,可能会更好地揭示第四纪冰期以来植物居群变化的历史过程。分子亲缘地理学研究是揭示动植物居群历史的有力工具,但到目前为止对青藏高原草本植物的分子亲缘地理学研究几乎是空白。因此,本文选择在青藏高原及邻近地区生长的一年生高山草本植物条纹狭蕊龙胆为研究对象,进行了13个居群155个个体的叶绿体基因组（cpDNA）非编码片段trnH（GUG）-psbA基因间区序列变异检测,共发现7种单倍型,其中单倍型Hap A是分布最广的,而单倍型Hap E、Hap F和Hap G是拥有的居群所特有的。青藏高原东北部、东部及邻近地区的每个居群拥有的单倍型非常单一,而高原东南部横断山区的单倍型分布很集中,遗传多样性也相对较高。分子变异分析（AMOVA）结果表明整个分布区条纹狭蕊龙胆的遗传变异主要存在于居群间（73.05%）,且居群间的遗传分化很高（G_(ST)=0.805,F_(ST)=0.731,N_(ST)=0.859）,有着显著的亲缘地理学结构（N_(ST)〉G_(ST),P〈0.05）和较低的居群间的平均基因流（N_m=0.184）。结合巢式支系法分析（NCA）,根据本文的研究结果推测青藏高原东南部横断山区是该植物第四纪冰期时可能的避难所,而且在间冰期或冰期后,伴随着异域片段化和过去片段化从避难所发生范围扩张而形成当前单倍型及居群的分布格局。

中药穿龙薯蓣、黄山药和盾叶薯蓣的分子鉴别研究

为建立对中药穿龙薯蓣、黄山药和盾叶薯蓣分子鉴别的方法，我们首先研究薯蓣叶绿体psbA-trnH片段遗传多样性，探讨该片段用于中药穿龙薯蓣、黄山药和盾叶薯蓣种间分子鉴别和系统学研究中的意义。在对不同类群薯蓣种的叶绿体psbA-trnH基因间区进行ＰＣＲ扩增并测序，获得了该区间的完整序列的基础上，将所得序列用软件MEGA3.0进行相关分析。穿龙薯蓣的psbA-trnH片段全长274bp，黄山药全长279bp，盾叶薯蓣植物个体内的叶绿体DNA则有两种psbA-trnH片段，长度分别为241bp和503bp。MEGA3.0软件分析，三种薯蓣种间psbA-trnH片段序列的遗传距离（p-distance）为0.00350-0.04545，各个薯蓣种内的不同类群该序列无差异。用UPGMA法根据psbA-trnH序列的遗传距离建立系统发生树，每个种不同产地的薯蓣很明确地聚在一起，和形态分类一致。所得结果显示psbA-trnH片段序列在所研究的三种薯蓣种内保守，在种间具有明显的较大差异，而三种薯蓣及薯蓣属的系统发生关系尚须进一步研究。 以穿龙薯蓣、黄山药和盾叶薯蓣的psbA-trnH片段序列分析结果为基础，我们根据三种薯蓣在该片段上的特征序列位点设计了用于识别三种薯蓣的寡核苷酸片段并作为PCR反应的引物，将三种薯蓣的特征标记引物与psbA-trnH片段引物配合使用建立了相互识别三种薯蓣的显性和共显性两种检测方式，辅以NaOH碱法快速提取薯蓣干燥根茎总DNA，为三种薯蓣药材相互间快速准确鉴别创造了条件。 To establish molecular method for identifying Chinese medicine Dioscorea nipponica/panthaica/zingiberensis, we firstly study the Genetic diversity of psbA-trnH of Dioscorea and discuss the value of the fragment to molecular identity and systematology to three Dioscorea species (Dioscorea nipponica/panthaica/zingiberensis). The psbA-trnH fragments of different species of Dioscorea are amplified and sequenced，analyzing by software MEGA3.0. The length of Dioscorea nipponica and panthaica are 274bp and 279bp; two psbA-trnH fragments exist in Dioscorea zingiberensis individual, length of the shorter fragment is 241bp and the longer is 503bp. The interspecific Genetic distance (p-distance) of the three species is 0.00350-0.04545, and no intraspecific diversity exists. According to the Genetic distance, phylogenetic tree is built by UPGMA Method, each species of different place gather obviously, which is same to the shape classification. Results show that the psbA-trnH fragment is highly conservative at intraspecific level and obvious diversity at interspecific level, however, phylogenetic study is necessary for the Dioscorea in the future. Based on analysis to psbA-trnH fragment of Dioscorea panthaica, nipponica and zingiberensis, according to the special point of the three Yam species, primers as marker are designed for distinguishing the three species. Cooperating with primer pair psbAf-trnHr, dominant and codominant way is established for discriminating them. Moreover, assisted with NaOH method to extract total DNA of Dry stenophora of Yam, rapid and correct identity to the three species can be done.

Generic relationships and dating of lineages in Winteraceae based on nuclear (ITS) and plastid (rpS16 and psbA-trnH) sequence data

Phylogenetic analyses of representative species from the five genera of Winteraceae (Drimys, Pseudowintera, Takhtajania, Tasmannia, and Zygogynum s.l.) were performed using ITS nuclear sequences and a combined data-set of ITS + psbA-trnH + rpS16 sequences (sampling of 30 and 15 species, respectively). Indel informativity using simple gap coding or gaps as a fifth character was examined in both data-sets. Parsimony and Bayesian analyses support the monophyly of Drimys, Tasmannia, and Zygogynum s.l., but do not support the monophyly of Belliolum, Zygogynum s.s., and Bubbia. Within Drimys, the combined data-set recovers two subclades. Divergence time estimates suggest that the splitting between Drimys and its sister clade (Pseudowintera + Zygogynum s.l.) occurred around the end of the Cretaceous; in contrast, the divergence between the two subclades within Drimys is more recent (15.5-18.5 MY) and coincides in time with the Andean uplift. Estimates suggest that the earliest divergences within Winteraceae could have predated the first events of Gondwana fragmentation. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

芍药属芍药组的变异与进化：形态、染色体和分子证据

芍药属Paeonia是芍药科Paeoniacea内唯一的一个属。包括大约35个种，间断性的分布于北温带地区。其内三个组分别是牡丹组(sect. Moutan)、北美芍药组(sect. Onaepia)和芍药组(sect. Paeonia)。芍药组是芍药属中最大，也是唯一具有染色体倍性变化的一个组，现有大约25个种。其中，大约半数的种是四倍体（2n＝20），主要分布于地中海地区。虽然有证据表明四倍体类群大多为异源起源，但芍药属内一致的核型、相似的形态和重叠的地理分布使得它们的起源和分类一直存在很大的争议。本研究利用了4个细胞核DNA片段（乙醇脱氢酶基因－Adh1和 Adh2;nrDNA的内转录间隔区－ITS;甘油－3磷酸乙酰转移酶基因－GPAT）和4个叶绿体DNA片段（matK基因;基因间隔区trnL-trnF、psbA-trnH和rps16－trnQ）对芍药组的网状进化进行部分重建。并在此基础上，对推测为杂交起源的P. anomala进行了形态学和细胞发生的研究。主要研究结果如下： 1． 芍药组的系统学 利用多个DNA分子标记(cpDNA: matK, rps16-trnQ; nrDNA: ITS, Adh1, Adh2)，芍药组的二倍体和四倍体类群的系统发育被部分重建。基于最大简约法、贝叶斯法和最大似然法的系统发育分析表明： (a) 除P. tenuifolia之外，所有地中海地区分布的二倍体类群构成一个单系分支。该支与亚洲分布的二倍体类群以及P. tenuifolia成并系关系。 (b) 核和叶绿体DNA系统发育树的不一致，以及ITS、Adh基因的多态性的分析，表明部分二倍体类群间和四倍体类群间都存在杂交事件。这些类群包括：中国新疆阿勒泰地区分布的二倍体种P. anomala和P. intermedia（杂种个体XJ053）;高加索地区分布的二倍体种P. tenuifolia和P. daurica（杂种个体H9933）;土耳其分布的四倍体种P. mascula和P. kesrouanensis（杂交个体在两个居群中检测到）。 (c) 不一致的核和叶绿体DNA系统发育树，以及Adh基因表现出的相同多态性模式进一步支持早先的推测，即四倍体类群P. arietina是异源四倍体。同时扩大的数据分析显示P. obovata近缘类群为其母系亲本，P. tenuifolia近缘类群为其父系亲本。此外，形态上具有一定分化的两个亚种P. arietina ssp. arietina和P. arietina ssp. parnassica是多次起源。 (d) 现今地中海分布类群的近缘种参与了四倍体种P. kesrouanensis 和P. coriacea，以及P. wittmanniana和P. mascula的物种形成。依据Adh序列种内的多态性，初步推测P. kesrouanensis 和P. coriacea可能是异源四倍体，其另一个亲本与P. arietina母系亲本近源。而P. wittmanniana和P. mascula可能是同源四倍体。 (e) P. saueri和P. peregrina的两个亲本类群分别与P. tenuifolia和现今地中海分布二倍体种的近缘类群。 (f) Adh1基因序列中近缘的重组类型暗示：四倍体种P. macrophylla和P. banatica很可能是同倍性杂种。 2． P. anomala的杂交起源和细胞发生 P. anomala新疆阿勒泰地区分布的居群核型第一次被报道。该地区分布的类群核型为2A型(核型公式：2n = 2x = 10 = 6m+2sm+2st)。减数分裂的观察统计显示：阿勒泰地区所有检测个体都是臂内倒位杂合子。基于断片大小以及不同个体染色体桥和/或断片出现率的差异，我们发现该类群臂内倒位存在多态性。荧光原位杂交（FISH）证实P. anomala共有8个18S rDNA位点，并且定位了一个倒位片段在3号染色体的短臂上。此外，高频率的棒状二价体和单价体，以及低的同源染色体的配对系数说明该类群同源染色体间存在分化。染色体结构杂合能够导致部分花粉败育，所有被检测个体的花粉败育率约为8.8 – 29.4%。 扩大的居群取样以及多基因(cpDNA: matK, psbA-trnH, rps16-trnQ, trnL-trnF; nrDNA: ITS, Adh1, Adh2, Gpat)的系统发育分析，进一步支持P. anomala杂交起源于P. veitchii 和P. lactiflora的近缘类群。cpDNA片段和核DNA片段（ITS、GPAT）基因树间的不一致，以及P. anomala Adh1和Adh2序列表现出的多态性都支持该类群杂交起源的推测。不过，表型分析显示P. anomala在形态上偏向于P. veitchii。 3． P. obovata Maxim.四倍体类群的起源 与原先基于形态性状的认识不同，P. obovata 四倍体类群并不是一个严格意义上的同源四倍体。它起源于二倍体P. obovata中国和日本分布的两个地理亚种之间的杂交。Adh2基因仅在中国分布二倍体居群的扩增失败支持这一推测。此外，Adh基因系统发育分析显示：间断性分布于中国中部和中国东北部的四倍体类群是独立起源。

东亚—北美间断分布类群的分子生物地理学研究—以莲科和菖蒲科为例

在洲际间断生物地理学研究中，东亚—北美间断分布类群的分子生物地理学研究一直是关注和研究的热点。在本论文中我们选取了水生和半水生的植物代表类群，莲科（Nelumbonaceae）和菖蒲科（Acoraceae）作为研究对象，通过来自叶绿体、线粒体和核基因组的DNA 序列分析和微卫星分析，一方面探讨莲科的系统位置、揭示其间断地理格局的形成过程、重建菖蒲科的系统发育及其地理格局的形成过程的同时，另一方面，在总结前人研究成果的基础上，总结东亚—北美间断分布的基本特点。主要成果总结如下。 1. 菖蒲科的系统发育和分子生物地理学 菖蒲科仅含一属，菖蒲属（Acorus），共5 种。其中北美菖蒲（A. americanus） 分布于北美，其余4 种（A. calamus, A. gramineus, A. tatarinowii and A. rumphianus） 分布于亚洲的东部和南部。北美菖蒲和菖蒲（A. calamus）叶片中间具有明显的中肋；其余3 种不具有明显的中肋。本论文的19 份材料包含了4 个种，（不含较狭域分布的长苞菖蒲A. rumphianus），利用4 个叶绿体基因片段（trnL-F, psbA-trnH, rps16-trnK, rbcL）和1 个核基因片段（ITS）的序列重建菖蒲属的系统发育。结果表明（1）具有中肋和不具中肋的物种各自聚为一支；（2）具有中肋的菖蒲和北美菖蒲亲缘关系最近，构成东亚—北美间断种对关系；（3）在不具有中肋的一支内部，来自台湾的材料与其它材料差异最大，其余的材料也明显的分为了两类。基于rbcL 序列，使用松散分子钟模型、贝叶斯算法估算菖蒲属起源时间约为135.17 百万年（mya），菖蒲和北美菖蒲的间断分歧时间约为3.72mya。该结果支持菖蒲属为古老的单子叶植物，但东亚—北美间断物种分化时间较年轻。我们推测间断的种对可能通过白令陆桥，从东亚扩散到了北美。 2. 莲科的系统位置和分子生物地理学 莲科仅含一属，莲属（Nelumbo），两个种莲（N. nucifera）和美洲黄莲（N. lutea），间断分布于东亚、澳大利亚北部和北美东部。莲科的系统位置在形态和分子证据不一致。本论文使用了核基因18S rDNA、26S rDNA，叶绿体基因atpB、rbcL，线粒体基因NAD1 的序列重新构建莲科的系统位置并进行了分化时间推算。结果为：（1）叶绿体和核基因构建的严格一致树的拓扑结构不一致，叶绿体数据支持莲科和山龙眼科、悬铃木科具有较近的亲缘关系，核基因数据显示莲科位于真双子叶植物的基部；（2）5 个基因片段的合并分析结果显示，莲科与山龙眼科、悬铃木科聚为一支但支持率不高；（3）基于核基因、叶绿体和5 个基因的分别合并数据，使用松散分子钟模型、贝叶斯算法估算莲科起源时间分别为，113.13 、109.38 和110.35mya ，两个间断物种的分化时间为，3.77、4.34、5.85mya；（4）根据间断的时间和两个物种的遗传差异程度，现存的两个物种应是来自于东亚或北美的冰期残遗，而不是来自于两个大陆祖先种的独立进化后裔。 3. 莲的分子谱系地理学研究 我们采集了37 份莲的材料，10 份美洲黄莲的材料，代表了两者的主要分布区。我们选取了叶绿体基因（trnL-trnF, trnS-trnG, petB-petD 和psbA-trnH），线粒体基因COX1，以及11 个微卫星位点进行莲的分子谱系地理研究。DNA 序列显示莲和美洲黄莲均具有很低的遗传多样性；微卫星数据揭示了稍高于DNA 序列的遗传多样性。两物种相比，美洲黄莲的多样性较高。基于微卫星数据的遗传结构分析表明，莲存在明显的3 个地理分化区域，这三个区域的遗传分化显著（FST=0.542），说明莲远距离群体间基因交流有限。基于DNA 序列和微卫星数据的单倍型地理分布关系，我们推测东南亚地区是莲的避难所或冰期残遗区，冰期后群体分别向西和向北扩张。 4. 东亚—北美间断分布的一般特点 （1）东亚—北美东部间断分歧时间范围较长，从始新世中期甚至更早一直持续到1mya 左右；东亚—北美西部间断类群分化时间跨度相对小，集中在中新世时期；东亚—整个北美间断分化时间与东亚—北美东部间断类群一样经历较长时间；草本类群晚于木本类群形成间断分布式样，洲际间断分化时间与类群的起源时间并无相关性。（2）东亚与北美间断分布类群的起源地因类群而异。（3） 东亚与北美间断分布类群扩散方向呈不确定性。（4）东亚与北美间断类群扩散有三条可能的路径，即大西洋陆桥、白令陆桥和南半球跨洋长距离传播。

杂交水稻威优64及其亲本叶绿体D1蛋白基因psbA的分子克隆与结构比较研究

水稻是我国及东南亚广大地区的主要粮食作物之一。已发现由叶绿体基因组编码的某些多肽与光合效率之间存在着密切的联系。但是，根据我们所掌握的资料，直至目前为止，还没有见到从分子水平上阐明高光效植物与低光效植物之间相互关系的研究报导。 本工作主要从编码D1蛋白的psbA基因着手研究。D1蛋白是光系统Ⅱ反应中心的组成之一,它是均三氮苯类(triazine)除草剂的结合受体。 实验采用无水法从杂交水稻威优64及其亲本V20A和测64的幼苗叶片中提联并纯化各自的ctDNA，然后用限制性内切酶BamHI、EcoRI、Hind III、PstⅠ分别进行切割消化。Southern吸印杂交结果表明，在水稻ctDNA2.2Kb的EcoRI限制片段上，编码着psbA基因的全序列。据此，我们用2.0-2.5 Kb范围的ctDNA的EcoR I酶切片段和pBR322质粒载体进行重组，并转化到E. coli HB101菌株中，构成水稻叶绿体DNA专一性基因文库。用分子杂交方法分别从三种水稻品种的专一性基因文库中调到了各自的psbA基因，它们的重组体质粒分别定名为pWsbA, pVsbA和ZsbA并构建了这三个基因的核酸内切酶图谱。结果发现，在本实验体检测的若干种核酸内切酶切割位点分布上，这三个基因并无差异，但同已发表的双子叶植物（豆，烟草等）比较，则有明显的不同。

黍子叶绿体光系统Ⅱ32kDa蛋白基因：psbA的分子克隆及其在不同光质诱导下的转录调节

本文以我国的一种古老作物也是一种C4植物一黍子(Pannicum miliaceum)为材料，克隆了其叶绿体光系统Ⅱ反应中心32kDa蛋白的基因—psbA，研究了不同光质对其表达的影响，并讨论了psbA转录调控的可能机理。 用无水法从黍子幼，苗分离其叶绿体，裂解后用常规的饱和酚抽提法制备cpDNA，并用于A-T含量测定，电镜观察和psbA的基因克隆．结果表明，黍子cpDNA的A-T含量(67%)与其它高等植物的A-T含量(61-67%)基本一致。根据电镜观察，其分子大小在36-40um之问，相当于79×l06Da或127kb。除了环状的大分子cpDNA外，我们也观察到了一些环状的小分子cpDNA。据此，我们认为，叶绿体基因组在体内可能是处于一种动态的变化过程中，这种变化或许是适应其功能的需要，也或许是内共生系统进化过程中遗留下来的叶绿体祖先的行为。 黍子cpDNA经EcoRI消化后，建立了专一性片段的克隆库，并从中筛选出了呈psbA杂交阳性的克隆．Southern杂交结合限制性内切酶分析表明，含黍子psbA的EcoRI的限制片段长约2.Okb，较水稻和大麦的短约0.2kb。 以白光、红光，兰光、远红光和黑暗五种不同的处理培养黍子幼苗，叶片采收后用于叶绿素积累，高分子量cpRNA积累和psbA的Northern Spot分析。结果表明，不同的光质促进叶绿素积累和高分子量cpRNA积累的效率是平行的，其中红光较兰光和远红光有效，而复合光（白光）的作用效果最好。当以白光的效率为100%时，我们可以分别求出不同光质对叶绿素积累和高分子量cpRNA积累的相对效率值，表明高分子量cpRNA的积累对光的依赖性要比叶绿素积累对光的依赖性大的多。psbA的Northern Spot分析表明，不同光质下psbA转录本的积累与高分子cpRNA的积累是一致的。据此我们推测，在黍子叶绿体的光诱导发育过程中，psbA的转录过程可能不受光信号的直接调控，而是受叶绿体发育状态控制的恒定变化过程。其表达的调节作用可能主要在转译或转译后水平上。

Molecular Mechanics Simulation of Recognition Identity of tRNA~(His/GUG)

本文选用经过实验验证的碱基序列 ,用简化的方式 ,构建了被水分子和镁离子修饰的核酸序列的分子模型 ,应用分子力学模拟方法对序列进行能量优化 ,对优化后序列的构象参数、成键状况和能量数据等进行了分析。对tRNAHHis GUG的识别特性作了初步的探索 ,得到了和实验结果相近的结论。此外 ,还从能力学的角度讨论了溶剂 -溶质 -溶剂相互作用形成的网状氢键网络对核酸结构稳定性的影响 ,探讨了非Crick_WatsonGU、UU配对的能力学特征并存在于被水分子和镁离子修饰的核酸序列中的GU、UU配对情况。

P_(psbA)驱动的类金属硫蛋白基因smtA在鱼腥藻的表达和镉离子抗性的提高

中国科学院回国留学人员择优基金资助

一种高效提取虎耳草科植物基因组DNA的方法

[目的]探索从虎耳草科植物中提取DNA的有效方法.[方法]采用改进的CTAB法,从11种虎耳草科植物中提取DNA.以提取的DNA为模板,利用通用引物"psb AF"和"trnHR"对虎耳草科植物叶绿体DNA psb A-trn H片段进行PCR扩增.[结果]通过该方法提取的DNA纯度较高,质量较好.用所得DNA进行psb A-trn H扩增的产量高,可用于后续的测序等分析.对山地虎耳草的PCR产物纯化后进行测序,得到262 bp的序列.将其与CenBank中的虎耳草属其他植物的psb A-tm H序列进行比对分析,证实该序列为目标psb A-trn H片段的区域.[结论]该方法可有效去除次生物质对DNA的干扰,提取的基因组DNA可用于叶绿体psb A-trn H测序分析和其他遗传学分析.

Phylogenetic origins of the Himalayan endemic Dolomiaea, Diplazoptilon and Xanthopappus (Asteraceae : Cardueae) based on three DNA regions

Background and Aims It is an enduring question as to the mechanisms leading to the high diversity and the processes producing endemics with unusual morphologies in the Himalayan alpine region. In the present study, the phylogenetic relationships and origins of three such endemic genera were analysed, Dolomiaea, Diplazoptilon and Xanthopappus, all in the tribe Cardueae of Asteraceae.Methods The nuclear rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and plastid trnL-F and psbA-trnH regions of these three genera were sequenced. The same regions for other related genera in Cardueae were also sequenced or downloaded from GenBank. Phylogenetic trees were constructed from individual and combined data sets of the three types of sequences using maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses.Key Results The phylogenetic tree obtained allowed earlier hypotheses concerning the relationships of these three endemic genera based on gross morphology to be rejected. Frolovia and Saussurea costus were deeply nested within Dolomiaea, and the strong statistical support for the Dolomiaea-Frolovia clade suggested that circumscription of Dolomiaea should be more broadly redefined. Diplazoptilon was resolved as sister to Himalaiella, and these two together are sister to Lipschitziella. The clade comprising these three genera is sister to Jurinea, and together these four genera are sister to the Dolomiaea-Frolovia clade. Xanthopappus, previously hypothesized to be closely related to Carduus, was found to be nested within a well-supported but not fully resolved Onopordum group with Alfredia, Ancathia, Lamyropappus, Olgaea, Synurus and Syreitschikovia, rather than the Cardinis group. The crude dating based on ITS sequence divergence revealed that the divergence time of Dolomiaea-Frolovia from its sister group probably occurred 13.6-12.2 million years ago (Ma), and the divergence times of the other two genera, Xanthopappus and Diplazoptilon, from their close relatives around 5.7-4.7 Ma and 2.0-1.6 Ma, respectively.Conclusions The findings provide an improved understanding of the intergeneric relationships in Cardueae. The crude calibration of lineages indicates that the uplifts of the Qiinghai -Tibetan Plateau since the Miocene might have served as a continuous stimulus for the production of these morphologically aberrant endemic elements of the Himalayan flora.

Land plants and DNA barcodes: short-term and long-term goals

Land plants have had the reputation of being problematic for DNA barcoding for two general reasons: (i) the standard DNA regions used in algae, animals and fungi have exceedingly low levels of variability and (ii) the typically used land plant plastid phylogenetic markers (e.g. rbcL, trnL-F, etc.) appear to have too little variation. However, no one has assessed how well current phylogenetic resources might work in the context of identification (versus phylogeny reconstruction). In this paper, we make such an assessment, particularly with two of the markers commonly sequenced in land plant phylogenetic studies, plastid rbcL and internal transcribed spacers of the large subunits of nuclear ribosomal DNA (ITS), and find that both of these DNA regions perform well even though the data currently available in GenBank/EBI were not produced to be used as barcodes and BLAST searches are not an ideal tool for this purpose. These results bode well for the use of even more variable regions of plastid DNA (such as, for example, psbA-trnH) as barcodes, once they have been widely sequenced. In the short term, efforts to bring land plant barcoding up to the standards being used now in other organisms should make swift progress. There are two categories of DNA barcode users, scientists in fields other than taxonomy and taxonomists. For the former, the use of mitochondrial and plastid DNA, the two most easily assessed genomes, is at least in the short term a useful tool that permits them to get on with their studies, which depend on knowing roughly which species or species groups they are dealing with, but these same DNA regions have important drawbacks for use in taxonomic studies (i.e. studies designed to elucidate species limits). For these purposes, DNA markers from uniparentally (usually maternally) inherited genomes can only provide half of the story required to improve taxonomic standards being used in DNA barcoding. In the long term, we will need to develop more sophisticated barcoding tools, which would be multiple, low-copy nuclear markers with sufficient genetic variability and PCR-reliability; these would permit the detection of hybrids and permit researchers to identify the 'genetic gaps' that are useful in assessing species limits.

DNA barcoding of a large genus, Aspalathus L. (Fabaceae)

The DNA barcode potential of three regions (the nuclear ribosomal ITS and the plastid psbA-trnH and trnT-trnL intergenic spacers) was investigated for the plant genus Aspalathus L. (Fabaceac: Crotalarieae). Aspalathus is a large genus (278 species) that revealed low levels of DNA variation in phylogenetic studies. In a 51-species dataset for the psbA-trnH and ITS regions, 45%, and 16% of sequences respectively were identical to the sequence of at least one other species, with two species undiscriminated even when the two regions were combined. In contrast, trnT-trnL, discriminated between all species in this dataset. In a larger ITS and trnT-trnL dataset. including a further 82 species. 7 species in five pairwise comparisons remained Undiscriminated when the two regions were combined. Four of the five pairs of species not discriminated by sequence data were readily distinguished using a combination of qualitative and quantitative morphological data. The difficulty of barcoding in this group is increased by the presence of intraspecific variation in all three regions studied. In the case of psbA-trnH, three intraspecific samples had a sequence identical to at least one other species. Overall, psbA-trnH. currently a candidate for plant barcoding, was the least discriminatory region in our study.

Mapania multiflora, a distinctive new species of Cyperaceae (Mapanioideae) from Borneo

Mapania multiflora is described and illustrated. It is vegetatively similar to taxa with broad leaves and pseudopetioles, such as M. cuspidata. However, it is reproductively similar to sect. Thoractostachyum with a paniculate inflorescence and furrowed fruit. The DNA is similar to M. bancana in sect. Thoractostachyum, in the three sampled cpDNA regions: atpH-F, trnL-F and psbA-trnH. However, it is identical to none of these due to its unique combination of vegetative, reproductive and molecular characteristics.