• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.34-45
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• 2013

The Polygonum amphibium complex (Poygonaceae) is a highly polymorphic taxon that can grow in aquatic environments as well as in moist terrestrial habitats. Aquatic and terrestrial plants of the P. amphibium complex vary significantly in morphology and exhibit very complicated patterns of morphological variation, resulting in the description of numerous infra-specific taxa. Principal components analysis of 107 individuals of the P. amphibium complex from Asia and North America using 11 morphological characters showed that the aquatic plants can be discerned from the terrestrial plants by leaf size, shape, and petiole length. In contrast, both aquatic and terrestrial plants collected from the same population or locality shared identical sequences in the matK, psbA-trnH IGS, rbcL-accD IGS and trnL-trnF regions of the chloroplast DNA (cpDNA), suggesting that aquatic and terrestrial forms of the P. amphibium complex are not genetically diverged; morphological differences between the two forms are probably due to the differences in environmental conditions of the habitats. In addition, results from the morphological analysis and the maximum parsimony analysis of the cpDNA data set revealed that the plants from Asia including Korea, Japan, China, Mongolia and Russia Far East are diverged from those in North America and Europe, suggesting that the Asian populations should be recognized as a distinct variety, P. amphibium var. amurense Korsh.

• BMB Reports
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.361-370
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• 2006

Genetic variation and molecular phylogeny of 22 taxa representing 14 extant species and 3 unidentified taxa of Boesenbergia in Thailand and four outgroup species (Cornukaempferia aurantiflora, Hedychium biflorum, Kaempferia parviflora, and Scaphochlamys rubescens) were examined by sequencing of 3 chloroplast (cp) DNA regions (matK, psbA-trnH and petA-psbJ). Low interspecific genetic divergence (0.25-1.74%) were observed in these investigated taxa. The 50% majority-rule consensus tree constructed from combined chloroplast DNA sequences allocated Boesenbergia in this study into 3 different groups. Using psbA-1F/psbA-3R primers, an insertion of 491 bp was observed in B. petiolata. Restriction analysis of the amplicon (380-410 bp) from the remaining species with Rsa I further differentiated Boesenbergia to 2 groupings; I (B. basispicata, B. longiflora, B. longipes, B. plicata, B. pulcherrima, B. tenuispicata, B. thorelii, B. xiphostachya, Boesenbergia sp.1 and Boesenbergia sp.3; phylogenetic clade A) that possesses a Rsa I restriction site and II (B. curtisii, B. regalis, B. rotunda and Boesenbergia sp.2; phylogenetic clade B and B. siamensis; phylogenetic clade C) that lacks a restriction site of Rsa I. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and indels found can be unambiguously applied to authenticate specie-origin of all investigated samples and revealed that Boesenbergia sp.1, Boesenbergia sp.2 and B. pulcherrima (Mahidol University, Kanchanaburi), B. cf. pulcherrima1 (Prachuap Khiri Khan) and B. cf. pulcherrima2 (Thong Pha Phum, Kanchanaburi) are B. plicata, B. rotunda and B. pulcherrima, respectively. In addition, molecular data also suggested that Boesenbergia sp.3 should be further differentiated from B. longiflora and regarded as a newly unidentified Boesenbergia species.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.206-217
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• 2018

The nucleotide sequences of the chloroplast rbcL, matK, and psbA-trnH and nuclear internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions were determined from all species of Viburnum in Korea with multiple accessions to reconstruct the phylogeny and to evaluate the utility of the DNA sequences as DNA barcodes. The results of phylogenetic analyses of the cpDNA and ITS data are consistent with the findings of previous studies of Viburnum. Four morphologically closely related species, V. dilatatum, V. erosum, V. japonicum, and V. wrightii, were included in a strongly supported sister clade of V. koreanum and V. opulus. Viburnum odoratissimum is suggested to be sister to the V. dilatatum/V. koreanum clade in the cpDNA data, while V. odoratissimum is a sister to V. furcatum in the ITS data. Viburnum burejaeticum and V. carlesii are strongly supported as monophyletic. Our analyses of DNA barcode regions from multiple accessions of the species of Viburnum in Korea confirm that six out of ten species in Korea can be discriminated at the species level. The V. dilatatum complex can be separated from the remaining species according to molecular data, but the resolution power to differentiate a species within the complex is weak. This study suggests that regional DNA barcodes are useful for molecular species identification in the case of Viburnum when flowering or fruiting materials are not available.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.126-147
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• 2023

The taxonomic identity of Elaeagnus ×maritima and E. ×submacrophylla (Elaeagnaceae) in Korea is unclear, yet they are presumed to be hybrid taxa based on their morphology. To determine their hybrid origins, a morphological analysis (field surveys and specimen examinations) and a molecular analysis involving two nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) regions (internal transcribed spacer and 5S non-transcribed spacer) and one chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) region (matK) were conducted. The morphological analysis revealed that E. ×maritima showed certain morphological similarities to E. glabra, whereas E. ×submacrophylla showed certain morphological similarities to E. pungens. However, the molecular analysis indicated that E. ×maritima exhibited additive species-specific sites of E. glabra and E. macrophylla in the nrDNA regions. Notably, E. ×submacrophylla showed various aspects, with some individuals exhibiting additive species-specific sites of E. pungens and E. macrophylla in the nrDNA and E. macrophylla sequences in the cpDNA regions, some individuals exhibiting E. macrophylla sequences in the nrDNA and E. pungens sequences in the cpDNA regions, and some individuals displaying E. macrophylla sequences in both the nrDNA and cpDNA regions, despite an intermediate morphology between E. pungens and E. macrophylla. These results indicate that these two species are of hybrid origin and frequently cross between parental and hybrid individuals.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.213-220
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• 2015

To elucidate the origin and patterns of establishment of insular plants on Ulleungdo Island, maternally inherited chloroplast DNA, which is useful for tracing seed movements, was used. Fagus multinervis, an endemic species that dominated broadleaf deciduous forests on Ulleungdo Island, is an excellent model for such a study. To understand the diversity and spatial distribution of the chloroplast haplotypes of F. multinervis, nucleotide sequences of the psbA-trnH region were determined from 144 individuals sampled throughout the island. Results of a phylogenetic analysis of the region with close relatives of F. multinervis suggest that F. multinervis is sister to a clade of F. japonica and F. engleriana. No haplotype variation was found within F. multinervis. This remarkably low cpDNA haplotype diversity is in contrast to the findings of previous allozyme studies of F. multinervis populations that showed high genetic diversity on Ulleungdo Island. Repeated colonization during the early stage of establishment via birds that migrated from a source area where the F. multinervis cpDNA haplotype was geographically structured may have resulted in the observed pattern of haplotype diversity. Alternatively, long-distance dispersal of seeds of the progenitor of F. multinervis via birds or typhoons to Ulleungdo may have been a single event, whereas the immigration of pollen from the mainland likely occurred frequently. Comparative phylogeographic studies of other species endemic to Ulleungdo Island and their close relatives on the neighboring mainland are necessary for a more complete understanding of the evolution of the island's native species.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.135-144
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• 2020

Background: Panax species are important herbal medicinal plants in the Araliaceae family. Recently, we reported the complete chloroplast genomes and 45S nuclear ribosomal DNA sequences from seven Panax species, two (P. quinquefolius and P. trifolius) from North America and five (P. ginseng, P. notoginseng, P. japonicus, P. vietnamensis, and P. stipuleanatus) from Asia. Methods: We conducted phylogenetic analysis of these chloroplast sequences with 12 other Araliaceae species and comprehensive comparative analysis among the seven Panax whole chloroplast genomes. Results: We identified 1,128 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in coding gene sequences, distributed among 72 of the 79 protein-coding genes in the chloroplast genomes of the seven Panax species. The other seven genes (including psaJ, psbN, rpl23, psbF, psbL, rps18, and rps7) were identical among the Panax species. We also discovered that 12 large chloroplast genome fragments were transferred into the mitochondrial genome based on sharing of more than 90% sequence similarity. The total size of transferred fragments was 60,331 bp, corresponding to approximately 38.6% of chloroplast genome. We developed 18 SNP markers from the chloroplast genic coding sequence regions that were not similar to regions in the mitochondrial genome. These markers included two or three species-specific markers for each species and can be used to authenticate all the seven Panax species from the others. Conclusion: The comparative analysis of chloroplast genomes from seven Panax species elucidated their genetic diversity and evolutionary relationships, and 18 species-specific markers were able to discriminate among these species, thereby furthering efforts to protect the ginseng industry from economically motivated adulteration.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.137-144
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• 2001

In order to investigate the diversity of bacterial community in the mud flat of Sunchon Bay, Chunnam province, diversity of amplified 16S rDNA was examined. Total DNA was extracted from sediment soils and 16S rDNAs were amplified using PCR primers based on the universally conserved sequences in bacteria. Clonal libraries were constructed and 111 clones were examined by amplified rDNA restriction analysis (ARDRA) using HaeIII. Clones were clustered based on restriction patterns using computer program, GelCompar II. One hundred different RFLP types were detected from 111 clones. The 20 clones were selected and sequenced according to dendrograms derived from ARDRA, to cover most of the bacterial diversity in the clone libraries. None of the clones were identical to any representatives in the Ribosomal Database Project small subunit RNA databases and GenBank. All sequences showed between 77 and 96.8% similarity to the known 16s rRNA sequence from cultured organisms. The 20 clones sequenced fell into seven major lineages of the domain Bacteria: alpha-, delta-, gamma-Proteobacteria, low G+C Gram positive bacteria, high G+C Gram positive bacteria, Sphingobacteria (Cytophaga) and Cyanobacteria (chloroplast). Among the clones, the Proteobacteria were dominant.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.208-217
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• 2010

Crossosomatales is a recently recognized order in the rosid II clade with about 64 species in eight morphologically distinct families that have been previously classified in as many as 15 other orders. Phylogenetic relationships among the families and genera within Crossosomatales were investigated using chloroplast atpB, matK, and rbcL sequences employing maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian methods. The phylogenetic framework was used to examine the patterns of morphological evolution and synapomorphies for subclades within Crossosomatales. The combined data with representative species from all genera in the order strongly supported monophyly of Crossosomatales. Strong support was found for the families in the Southern Hemisphere, in which Aphloiaceae is sister to the clade of (Geissolomataceae, (Ixerbaceae + Strasburgeriaceae)). The sister relationship between the Southern Hemisphere clade and families distributed primarily in the Northern Hemisphere was also supported. As in the previous studies, following relationships were found within the Northern Hemisphere clade: Staphyleaceae is sister to a clade of (Guamatelaceae, (Stachyuraceae + Crossosomataceae)). The pattern analysis indicates that evolutionary pattern of morphological characters is complex, requiring multiple changes within Crossosomatales. Several reproductive traits, such as inflorescence, aril, stigma, and conspicuous protrusion from pollen aperture, corroborate the molecular phylogeny.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.141-149
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• 2020

Solanum hougasii, one of the wild Solanum species, has been widely used in potato breeding since it exhibits excellent resistance to diverse important pathogens. S. hougasii can be directly crossed with the cultivated tetraploid potato (S. tuberosum) owing to its EBN (Endosperm Balanced Number) value of 4, which is same as that of S. tuberosum although it is an allohexaploid. In this study, the complete chloroplast genome sequence of S. hougasii was obtained by next-generation sequencing technology, and compared with that of the chloroplast genome of seven other Solanum species to identify S. hougasii-specific PCR markers. The length of the complete chloroplast genome of S. hougasii was 155,549 bp. The structural organization of the chloroplast genome in S. hougasii was found to be similar to that of seven other Solanum species studied. Phylogenetic analysis of S. hougasii with ten other Solanaceae family members revealed that S. hougasii was most closely related to S. stoloniferum, followed by S. berthaultii, and S. tuberosum. Additional comparison of the chloroplast genome sequence with that of five other Solanum species revealed five InDels and 43 SNPs specific to S. hougasii. Based on these SNPs, four PCR-based markers were developed for the differentiation of S. hougasii from other Solanum species. The results obtained in this study will aid in exploring the evolutionary and breeding aspects of Solanum species.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.524-529
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• 2019

Medicinal plants resources are becoming important assets since their usages have been expanded to the development of functional foods for human health, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries. However, their phylogenetic origins and names are different from each country and quite often they are mixed each other resulting in the confusion for consumers. Particularly when they are very similar based on their morphological characteristics and distributed, it is extremely difficult to differentiate their origins even by specialists. Therefore, identification of each plant species is important for standardizing herbal medicine. Thistle is a medicinal and perennial plant. Obtaining information about the genetic diversity of plant populations is highly important for conservation and germplasm utilization. Although thistle is an important medicinal plant species registered in South Korea, no molecular markers are currently available to distinguish from other similar species from different countries. In this study, we developed single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers derived from chloroplast genomic sequences to identify distinct Korean-specific thistle species via high resolution melting (HRM) curve analyses. We performed molecular authentication of four different kinds of thistle species from different regions using DNA sequences in the trnL-F and matK chloroplast intergenic region. The SNP markers developed in this study are useful for rapidly identifying specific thistle species from different country.