Molecular α-taxonomy of Japanese ferns using rbcL sequence data as the first key information

一般来说，蕨类植物的形态比被子植物简单得多。由于蕨类植物通常缺乏良好的形态特征可用于种识别，多个隐种可能包含在一个形态种。近年来，利用PCR和直接测序技术从野生植物中收集DNA核苷酸序列数据变得更加容易。这类分子信息主要用于系统发育分析，但也可用于α-分类学（识别自然存在的物种）。当形态学不能提供足够的物种划分信息时，DNA序列的特征可以为α分类学提供替代的有用信息。我们正在尝试建立一种新的适用于任何形态简单植物的分子α分类学方法。在本研究项目中，我们检测了远缘蕨类植物群如铁角蕨（铁角蕨科）、狭蕨（Stegnogramma pozoi）和蕨类植物中rbcL序列的形态特异性变异。 ...更多信息 （Thelypteridaceae）、薇菜Osmundacinnamomea、薇菜O. claytoniana，O.帝王莲（Osmundaceae）和二尖唇花（Cheiropleuria bicuspis）。在每个物种中，我们发现了大量的rbcL序列变异。以. nidus，我们仔细研究了可能的遗传隔离之间的不同rbcL类型发现在山。Halimun国家公园，印度尼西亚使用人工杂交实验和等位酶分析。并对各rbcL类型进行了生态学观察。我们的研究结果表明，这些rbcL类型的A巢是神秘的物种，因为它们是生殖隔离，遗传和生态分化良好。5种rbcL类型在Mt. Halimun国家公园应被视为单独的种，即使他们是很难区分，只有他们的叶的总体形态。蕨类植物中rbcL序列的大量变异可能表明它们也由几个不同的生殖隔离的隐蔽物种组成，就像A.nidus一样。我们还计划采用与A相同的策略。以确定它们的物种地位。少

Generally, ferns have much simpler morphology than angiosperms. Since ferns usually lack the good morphological characters available for specied recognition, multiple cryptic species may be contained within one morphological species. Recently, it has becom easier to collect DNA nucleotide sequence data from wild plants using PCR and direct sequencing techniques. This kind of molecular information has mostly been used for phylogenetic analysis, but can also useful for α-taxonomy(recognition of naturally existing species). The characters of DNA sequences may provide alternative useful information for α-taxonomy when morphology does not provide enough information about species delimitation. We are now trying to establish new molecular α-taxonomical method which is applicable to any morphologically simple plants. In this research project, we examined intra-morphospecific variations of rbcL sequences in distantly related fern groups such as Asplenium nidus(Aspleniaceae), Stegnogramma pozoi … More (Thelypteridaceae), Osmunda cinnamomea, O. claytoniana, O. regalis (Osmundaceae) and Cheiropleuria bicuspis (Cheiropleuriaceae). In each species, we found a large amount of rbcL sequence variation. In A. nidus, we carefully examined possible genetic isolation between different rbcL types found in Mt. Halimun National Park, Indonesia using artificial crossing experiments and allozyme analyses. We also conducted ecological observation of each rbcL types. Our results suggest that these rbcL types of A nidus are cryptic species because they are reproductively isolated, genetically and ecologically well differentiated. The five rbcL types in Mt. Halimun National Park should be treated as separate species even though they are difficult to ve distinguish only by their leaf gross morphology. The large amount of rbcL sequence variation in fern species may suggest that they also consist of several different reproductivelu isolated cryptic species, just as A.nidus does. We are also planning to apply the same strategy used for A. nidus for these species in order to determine their species status. Less