The taxonomic relationship between Elaeagnus moorcroftii and E. angustifolia (Elaeagnaceae) based on morphological similarities and simple‐sequence repeat markers

Abstract

Elaeagnus L. (Elaeagnaceae) is an important plant genus widely used in erosion control due to its high wind breaking and soil binding capacity, but also possessing medicinal and ornamental values. The phenotypic similarity of fruits and flowers of E. moorcroftii and E. angustifolia has often led researchers to speculate on their close relationship and they have sometimes been considered conspecific. In this study, 16 morphological characters were selected and assigned for cluster analysis which divided the samples (n = 49) into six groups: three of E. moorcroftii and three of E. angustifolia. Simple‐sequence repeat (SSR) markers were used to discern the genetic diversity of the 49 individuals. Genetic diversity was found to be high (He = 288, I = 0.938) and there was a strong correlation between the morphological and SSR data. Thus, when combined, the phenotypic classification and SSR marker based evidence confirmed E. moorcroftii as a distinct species independent from E. angustifolia, a conclusion not in agreement with the treatment in recent floras.