• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.75-80
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• 2012

$Kalopanax$ $pictus$ is a long-lived deciduous perennial tree in the family Araliaceae mainly distributed in the East Asia. In Korea, this species is of ecological and medical importance. Because typical populations of this species are small and distributed in patches, $K.$ $pictus$ has been considered as a narrow habitat species. To understand the genetic diversity and population structure of this species, the sequence variation of the nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region was analyzed among 18 different $K.$ $pictus$ populations in the present investigation. The nrDNA ITS sequences of Korean populations investigated in this study showed identical of 616 bp in length, and no any nucleotide variation was found in the entire nrDNA ITS region sequence. This result suggested that the $K.$ $pictus$ populations in Korea might belong to the same isolate, and no mutation was found in the nrDNA ITS region. Compared with other known ITS sequence sources from $K.$ $pictus$ populations, only four variable nucleotide sites were found within the entire ITS region. Very narrow genetic diversity appearing in the population level of $K.$ $pictus$ makes us hypothesize that their relatively isolated habitats. The long-lived traits might be one main reason. However, another probability was that the nr-DNA ITS region might be noneffective in classifying populations of $K.$ $pictus$. Thus, to further understand the phylogenetic relationship of $K.$ $pictus$ populations, more samplings should be performed based on more DNA sequences.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.489-499
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• 2015

Background : Plants belonging to 5 species of the genus Eleutherococcus are currently distributed in the Korean peninsula. The traditional medicine 'Ogapi', derived from Eleutherococcus sessiliflorus and other related species, and 'Gasiogapi', derived from Eleutherococcus senticosus, are frequently mixed up and marketed. Therefore, accurated identification of their origins in urgently required. Methods and Results : Candidate genes from nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) and chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) of Eleutherococcus plants were analyzed. Whereas the nrDNA-internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions were useful in elucidating the phylogenetic relationships among the plants, the cpDNA regions were not as effective. Therefore, a combined analysis with nrDNA-ITS was performed. Various combinations of nrDNA and matK were effective for discriminating among the plants. However, the matK and rpoC1 combination was ineffective for discriminating among some species. Based on these results, it was found that OG1, OG4, OG5, OG7, GS1, GS2, and GS3 were derived from E. sessiliflorus. In particular, it was confirmed that GS1, GS2, and GS3 were not derived from E. senticosus. However, more samples need to be analyzed because identification of the origins of OG2, OG3, OG6 and GS4 was not possible. Conclusion : The ITS2, ITS5a, and matK combination was the most effective in identifying the phylogenetic relationship among Eleutherococcus plants and traditional medicines based on Eleutherococcus.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.344-360
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• 2017

Zoysiagrasses are important turf plants used for school playgrounds, parks, golf courses, and sports fields. The two most popular zoysiagrass species are Zoysia japonica and Zoysia sinica. These are widely distributed across different growing zones and are morphologically distinguishable from each other; however, it is phenotypically difficult to differentiate those that grow along the coastal line from those in beach area habitats. A combination of morphological and molecular approaches is desirable to efficiently identify these two plant cultivars. In this study, we used a rapid identification system based on DNA barcoding of the nrDNA-internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions. The nrDNA-ITS regions of ITS1, 5.8S nrDNA, and ITS2 from Z. japonica, Z. sinica, Agrostis stolonifera, and Poa pratensis were DNA barcoded to classify these grasses according to their molecular identities. The nrDNA-ITS sequences of these species were found at 686 bp, 687 bp, 683 bp, and 681 bp, respectively. The size of ITS1 ranged from 248 to 249 bp, while ITS2 ranged from 270 to 274 bp. The 5.8S coding region ranged from 163 - 164bp. Between Z. japonica and Z. sinica, nineteen (2.8%) nucleotide sites were variable, and the G+C content of the ITS region ranged from 55.4 to 63.3%. Substitutions and insert/deletion (indel) sites in the nrDNA-ITS sequence of Z. japonica and Z. sinica were converted to cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (CAPS) markers, and applied to the Zoysia grasses sampled to verify the presence of these markers. Among the 62 control and collected grass samples, we classified three groups: 36 Z. japonica, 22 Z. sinica, and 4 Z. japonica/Z. sinica hybrids. Morphological classification revealed only two groups; Z. japonica and Z. sinica. Our results suggest that used of the nrDNA-ITS barcode region and CAPS markers can be used to distinguish between Z. japonica and Z. sinica at the species level.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.47-54
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• 2010

Objectives : The original plant species of Schisandrae Fructus (O-mi-ja) is prescribed as Schisandra chinensis $B_{AILL.}$, in Korea, but S. chinensis $B_{AILL.}$ and S. sphenanthera $R_{EHD.}$ et $W_{ILS.}$ in China. Moreover, fruit of several other species in genus Schisandra also have been used as the same herbal medicines. To develop a reliable method for correct identification of Schisandrae Fructus and to evaluate the phylogenetic relationship of S. chinensis and its related species, we analyzed internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences of nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA). Methods : Twenty-four plant samples of three Schisandra species and one Kadsura species, S. chinensis $B_{AILL.}$, S. spenanthera $R_{EHD.}$ et $W_{ILS.}$, S. nigra $M_{ax.}$ and Kadsura japonica $D_{UNAL}$ were collected from each different native habitate and farm in Korea and China. The nrDNA-ITS region of each samples were amplified using ITS1 and ITS4 primer and nucleotide sequences were determined after sub-cloning into the pGEM-Teasy vector. Authentic marker nucleotides were estimated by the analysis of ClastalW based on the entire nrDNA-ITS sequence. Results : In comparative analysis of the nrDNA-ITS sequences, we found specific nucleotide sequences including indels (insertions and deletions) and substitutions to distinguish C. chinensis, S. spenanthera, S. nigra, and K. japonica. These sequence differences at corresponding positions are avaliable nucleotide markers to determine the botanical origin of O-mi-ja. Moreover, we evaluated the phylogenetic relationship of four plant species by the analysis of nrDNA-ITS sequences. Conclusions : These marker nucleotides would be useful to identify the official herbal medicines by the providing of definitive information that can identify each plant species and distinguish it from unauthentic adulterants for O-mi-ja.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.158-168
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• 2015

A study of the genus Pilea in Korea including five taxa was carried out using molecular phylogenetic methods. The majority of members of the genus Pilea in Korea are annual herbs, and they live in moist habitats, flowering in summer and fruiting in autumn. The results of a phylogenetic analysis using nrDNA and cpDNA supported the recognition of P. japonica, P. peploides, and P. taquetii. Pilea taquetii from Mt. Sanbangsan in Jeju was nested within P. hamaoi and P. mongolica clade instead of the P. taquetii clade, with P. taquetii from Mt. Jirisan also separated from the P. taquetii clade. This indicates that the separation is not geographical isolation, but is instead related to taxonomic problems. Therefore, further study of the P. taquetii group is necessary.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.32-37
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• 2023

Spiraea prunifolia f. simpliciflora Nakai is a perennial shrub widely used for horticultural and medicinal purposes. We simultaneously obtained the complete plastid genome (plastome) and nuclear ribosomal gene transcription units, 45S nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) and 5S nrDNA of S. prunifolia f. simpliciflora, using Illumina short-read data. The plastome is 155,984 bp in length with a canonical quadripartite structure consisting of 84,417 bp of a large single-copy region, 18,887 bp of a short single-copy region, and 26,340 bp of two inverted repeat regions. Overall, a total of 113 genes (79 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNAs, and four rRNAs) were annotated in the plastome. The 45S nrDNA transcription unit is 5,848 bp in length: 1,809 bp, 161 bp, and 3,397 bp for 18S, 5.8S, and 26S, respectively, and 261 bp and 220 bp for internal transcribed spacer (ITS) 1 and ITS 2 regions, respectively. The 5S nrDNA unit is 512 bp, including 121 bp of 5S rRNA and 391 bp of intergenic spacer regions. Phylogenetic analyses showed that the genus Spiraea was monophyletic and sister to the clade of Sibiraea angustata, Petrophytum caespitosum and Kelseya uniflora. Within the genus Spiraea, the sections Calospira and Spiraea were monophyletic, but the sect. Glomerati was nested within the sect. Chamaedryon. In the sect. Glomerati, S. prunifolia f. simpliciflora formed a subclade with S. media, and the subclade was sister to S. thunbergii and S. mongolica. The close relationship between S. prunifolia f. simpliciflora and S. media was also supported by the nrDNA phylogeny, indicating that the plastome and nrDNA sequences assembled in this study belong to the genus Spiraea. The newly reported complete plastome and nrDNA transcription unit sequences of S. prunifolia f. simpliciflora provide useful information for further phylogenetic and evolutionary studies of the genus Spiraea, as well as the family Rosaceae.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.1-8
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• 2009

Objectives : This study was carried out to discriminate origin and molecular marker of oriental medicine "Cnidii Rhizoma" be circulated between Korea and China, which is difficult to discriminate from morphological distinction because of a fragmental materials of roots. Methods : Materials were collected randomly from a medicinal herb markets in Korea and China and be analyzed with ITS (internal transcribed spacer) regions of nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA). Results : As a results, ITS regions of nrDNA was shown to be identify as three molecular markers. "Cnidii Rhizoma" was made up syster group of the genus Ligusticum L. and divided into three groups with "Tou-chun-gung", "IL-chun-gung" and "China-chun-gung". Conclusions : From the analysis of ITS regions of nrDNA, we presumed that it is the same origin of "Cnidii Rhizoma" from Korea and China because of phylogenetic tree consisted of sister groups with the genus Ligusticum than the genus Cnidium.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.11
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• pp.1341-1344
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• 2016

Dendropanax morbifera is an endemic tree species of Korea, it is restricted to the southern parts of Korea. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) for Dendropanax morbifera grown at Bogil-do, Korea was determined. We investigated the sequence-based phylogenetic relationships of plants related and clarified its taxonomical position. The determined sequences consisted of 689 residues. ITS1 was 222 bp long while ITS2 was 233 bp long. The 5.8S rDNA was 160 bp long. The ITS region sequences of the Dendropanax species included in this study were obtained from GenBank. Oreopanax polycephalus was used as the outgroup. A pairwise alignment was calculated using the Clustal X program. A phylogenetic tree was constructed by the neighbor-joining method using the Tree view program. Sequence similarities among species including D. morbifera Bogil-do isolate showed the range 92.6 to 99.7% in sequence-based phylogenetic analysis using total 615 base pairs of ITS1, 5.8S rDNA and ITS2. D. morbifera Bogil-do isolate exhibited the highest degree of relatedness to D. chevalieri, sharing 99.7% ITS region similarity. D. morbifera Bogil-do isolate also showed to D. trifidus, sharing 99.4% ITS region similarity.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.21-40
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• 2006

We examined nrDNA ITS sequences from 16 taxa of Polygonum sect. Persicaria(Polygonaceae) in Korea to infer relationships among the taxa within the section. A neighbor-joining tree obtained from the analysis of the ITS sequences suggest that the ITS region was useful inferring the phylogenetic relationships among the taxa. The neighbor-joining tree indicates that P.amphibium is clearly separated from the other Korean taxa. The tree also reveals the presence of five major groups in the Korean taxa of the section; 1) P. lapathifolium var. lapathifolium, 2) P. persicaria and P. viscoferum, 3) P. orientale and P. viscosum, 4) P. japonicum and 5) a group including the remaining taxa. these relationships depicted on the ITS tree are largely congruent with those inferred from morphological and anatomical characters.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.96-104
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• 2012

Phylogenetic analyses were conducted to evaluate relationships of 7 taxa of Korean Carpesium including three outgroup (Inula britannica L., Inula germanica L., Rhanteriopsis lannginosa (DC.) Rauschert) by using ITS (internal transcribed spacer) sequences of nuclear ribosomal DNA. Phylogenetic studies used maximum parsimony, neighbor-joining and maximum likelihood methods analysis. The length of the ITS sequences was 731 bp, and the lengths of the ITS1, ITS2 and 5.8S regions were 284~297 bp, 264~266 bp and 164 bp, respectively. The total number of variable sites was 111 for the entire sequences, and a parsimony informative sites of 64 are valid. Base change appeared variously in ITS1 rather than in ITS2. As the result, Korean Carpesium were formed monophyletic group and C. abrotanoides situated as the most basal clade. The results show that C. macrocephalum is closely related with C. triste. C. rosulatum has the closest relationship with C. glossophyllum. C. cernuum is close to C. divaricatum. These results suggest that the ITS data used in this study could be useful for the phylogenetic analysis of Korean Carpesium.