Phylogenetic relationship of Picea mongolica with other Picea species in the same area based on chloroplast gene variations

Abstract

Picea mongolica is a conifer with a limited distribution in China and its taxonomic status is controversial. In order to explore genetic differences between P. mongolica and other nearby Picea species and to investigate its taxonomic status, phylogenetic relationships were analyzed between P. mongolica and Picea koraiensis, Picea meyeri and Picea wilsonii by three chloroplast gene sequences matK, chlB and atpA. The length of joint chloroplast sequence is 2379 bp. The fifteen haplotypes were identified by haplotype network analysis, among which two were major haplotypes and nine were unique. In addition, the genetic diversity of the sample collection species was inferred. Based on the haplotype network and Neighbor Joining phylogenetic tree analysis, P. mongolica was located on the basal clade of the phylogenetic tree which had more primitive taxa, and the genetic diversity of P. mongolica was highest. The significant differences between P. mongolica and these other Picea species were identified by this research.