DNA barcoding of the genus Nepenthes (Pitcher plant): a preliminary assessment towards its identification

Barbi Gogoi,Brijmohan Singh Bhau

doi:10.1186/s12870-018-1375-5

Barbi Gogoi, Brijmohan Singh Bhau

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-018-1375-5

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Abstract

BackgroundDNA barcoding is impending towards the generation of universal standards for species discrimination with a standard gene region that can be sequenced accurately and within short span of time. In this study, we were successful in developing efficient barcode locus in the Nepenthes genus. A total of 317 accessions were retrieved from GenBank of NCBI which represent 140 different species Nepenthes and evaluated the efficacy of ITS, rbcl and matK barcode candidates using barcode gap, applied distance similarity, and tree-based methods.ResultOur result indicates that single-locus ITS or combined with plastid regions (matK) showed the best species discrimination with distinctive barcoding gaps. Therefore, we tentatively proposed the combination of ITS+matK as a core barcode for Nepenthes genus.ConclusionThis study provides a report on DNA barcoding for unique insectivores’ Nepenthes genus. As the different species of Nepenthes are higly endemic and endangered, it would be a useful study to understand the evolutionary relationship, sketched in emigration, mislabeling and can be a probable assessment for its biodiversity.

Highlights

DNA barcoding is impending towards the generation of universal standards for species discrimination with a standard gene region that can be sequenced accurately and within short span of time
This study focuses on the sequences of Nepenthes species which are reported in the National centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database
All other barcodes had overlapped between their intra- and inter- specific distances without clear barcoding gaps (Fig. 1)

Summary

Introduction

DNA barcoding is impending towards the generation of universal standards for species discrimination with a standard gene region that can be sequenced accurately and within short span of time. Morphology-based taxonomy provides ambiguous phylogenetic evidence of large diversified plants genera [2]. To overcome this problem in taxonomy, sequencing of genomic DNA can serve as a standardized method for species identification since, more closely related species hold more homologous DNA sequences in contrast to the. The highly slippery wax surfaces of the pitcher interior encouraged engineers to develop many unique products based on this feature The population of this genus is declining rapidly due to overexploitation and if such declination continues it will lead to decrease in diversity and result into its extinction. We assessed three potential barcodes by sampling 140 species of Nepenthes with the aims of proposing a practical and universal standard barcode region that must be conserved and distinguish the species from the other genera

Results

Discussion

Conclusion