Abstract
The genus Cuscuta (Convolvulaceae) comprises well-known parasitic plants. Cuscuta species are scientifically valuable, as their life style causes extensive crop damage. Furthermore, dried seeds of C. chinensis are used as a Korean traditional herbal medicine. Despite the importance of Cuscuta species, it is difficult to distinguish these plants by the naked eye. Moreover, plastid sequence information available for Cuscuta species is limited. In this study, we distinguished between C. chinensis and C. japonica using morphological characterisation of reproductive organs and molecular characterisation of chloroplast genomes. The differences in morphological characteristics of reproductive organs such as style, stigma, infrastaminal scale, seed shape and testa ornamentation were useful for distinguishing between C. japonica and C. chinensis. Analysis of chloroplast genomes revealed drastic differences in chloroplast genome length and gene order between the two species. Although both species showed numerous gene losses and genomic rearrangements, chloroplast genomes showed highly similar structure within subgenera. Phylogenetic analysis of Cuscuta chloroplast genomes revealed paraphyletic groups within subgenera Monogynella and Grammica, which is consistent with the APG IV system of classification. Our results provide useful information for the taxonomic, phylogenetic and evolutionary analysis of Cuscuta and accurate identification of herbal medicine.
Highlights
Cuscuta L. is a genus comprising 170–200 species of parasitic vines belonging to the family Convolvulaceae [1,2]
Choisy [29] was the first to propose the infrageneric classification of the genus Cuscuta, based on the shape of stigmata
We confirmed that infrastaminal scale (IFS) type, style number and stigma morphology were useful for the identification of C. japonica and C. chinensis
Summary
Cuscuta L. (dodder) is a genus comprising 170–200 species of parasitic vines belonging to the family Convolvulaceae [1,2]. In the genus Cuscuta, complete chloroplast genomes have been reported for five species, including C. reflexa, C. gronovii, C. exaltata, C. obtusiflora and C. pentagona [19,20,21]. Chloroplast genomes of these species exhibit gene loss, signatures of selection, genomic rearrangement and differences in genome size, gene number and GC content. A few complete chloroplast genomes are available in the genus Cuscuta, further investigation is needed for high-resolution phylogenetic analysis as well as Cuscuta species identification because of differences in the life style of different parasitic species, numerous existing species and rapid gene evolution. Results showed differences in the morphological traits of floral organs and seeds as well as in the complete chloroplast genomes of C. japonica and C. chinensis. This study will help preserve the quality of Cuscutae Semen as a valuable herbal medicine
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