Genome structure and diversity among Cynanchum wilfordii accessions

Sae Hyun Lee,Tae-Jin Yang,Hyun-Oh Lee,Nomar Espinosa Waminal,Jiseok Kim,Eunbi Kim,Hyun Hee Kim,Hyeonah Shim,Jeonghoon Lee,Hong Seob Yu,Jee Young Park,Hyunjin Koo,Hyun-Seung Park,Remnyl Joyce Pellerin

doi:10.1186/s12870-021-03390-y

Sae Hyun Lee, Tae-Jin Yang + Show 12 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-021-03390-y

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Abstract

BackgroundCynanchum wilfordii (Cw) and Cynanchum auriculatum (Ca) have long been used in traditional medicine and as functional food in Korea and China, respectively. They have diverse medicinal functions, and many studies have been conducted, including pharmaceutical efficiency and metabolites. Especially, Cw is regarded as the most famous medicinal herb in Korea due to its menopausal symptoms relieving effect. Despite the high demand for Cw in the market, both species are cultivated using wild resources with rare genomic information.ResultsWe collected 160 Cw germplasm from local areas of Korea and analyzed their morphological diversity. Five Cw and one Ca of them, which were morphologically diverse, were sequenced, and nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) and complete plastid genome (plastome) sequences were assembled and annotated. We investigated the genomic characteristics of Cw as well as the genetic diversity of plastomes and nrDNA of Cw and Ca. The Cw haploid nuclear genome was approximately 178 Mbp. Karyotyping revealed the juxtaposition of 45S and 5S nrDNA on one of 11 chromosomes. Plastome sequences revealed 1226 interspecies polymorphisms and 11 Cw intraspecies polymorphisms. The 160 Cw accessions were grouped into 21 haplotypes based on seven plastome markers and into 108 haplotypes based on seven nuclear markers. Nuclear genotypes did not coincide with plastome haplotypes that reflect the frequent natural outcrossing events.ConclusionsCw germplasm had a huge morphological diversity, and their wide range of genetic diversity was revealed through the investigation with 14 molecular markers. The morphological and genomic diversity, chromosome structure, and genome size provide fundamental genomic information for breeding of undomesticated Cw plants.

Highlights

Cynanchum wilfordii (Cw) and Cynanchum auriculatum (Ca) have long been used in traditional medi‐ cine and as functional food in Korea and China, respectively
We investigated the diverse morphological characteristics along with the genome size and chromosome structure of Cw and Ca, with the goal of exploring the genetic diversity of these two species and providing basic genome information that can be used in breeding programs
Cw showed morphological diversity and compact genome structure The two Cynanchum species can be clearly identified on the basis of flower shape because Ca has a rolledback calyx, whereas Cw has a calyx that covers the petals (Fig. 1)

Summary

Introduction

Cynanchum wilfordii (Cw) and Cynanchum auriculatum (Ca) have long been used in traditional medi‐ cine and as functional food in Korea and China, respectively. They have diverse medicinal functions, and many studies have been conducted, including pharmaceutical efficiency and metabolites. Cynanchum wilfordii (Cw) and Cynanchum auriculatum (Ca) are perennial plants with climbing vines and tuberous roots that are used in traditional medicine in Korea and China, respectively. Ca was introduced into Korea approximately 30 years ago from China and is cultivated by some farmers in South Korea These two species are similar in morphology and metabolite compositions. In 2015, concerns about economically motivated adulteration (EMA) arose in Korea over the substitution of Ca, which is not recognized as a medicinal plant, for Cw in functional foods [9]

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