Amplification rate of matK and rbcL genes in three types of durian

Durian is a tropic fruit having numerous variations on its fruits. Its variations are not only in its shape but also in its aril fruit, aril color, flavor, and aril thickness. In addition to its fruit variations, the genus Durio also has many species which quite hard to distinguish morphologically, except during flowering and fruiting times. This study aimed to determine the genetic relationship among Durian, Pelangi Atuturi Variety Durian, Durio graveolent, and Durio zibetinus based on chloroplast genes (RbcL and matK genes). The primers were previously designed for amplifying matK and rbcL genes based on the Durio zibethinus sequence. Both genes were used because of having great competence to describe genetic relationships between plant species. The rbcL primer could amplify all evaluated samples. Meanwhile, matK primer generated a smeared band in Durian Pelangi; thus, we did not obtain any sequence of this plant. Sequence analysis showed no variation of rbcL sequence in these evaluated species. A similar result was also observed on D. zibethinus and D. graveolent. Overall, both genes could not describe the genetic relationship among the evaluated durians, and they were grouped in the same cluster in phylogenetic.

DNA Sequence Analyses Reveal Two New Species of Caloglossa (Delesseriaceae, Rhodophyta) from the Skin of West Indian Manatees

Epizoic macroalgae collected from the skin of West Indian manatees included specimens of the red algal family Delesseriaceae. Morphological and rbcL sequence analyses indicated that these specimens represented two novel species of Caloglossa. One species, described here as Caloglossa kamiyana Freshwater, Cath.E. Miller & Frankovich sp. nov., had been previously studied and recognized as part of the C. ogasawaraensis species complex. The rbcL sequence divergence between C. kamiyana and other taxa within the complex ranged from 4.6–5.3%, and tetrasporangial mother cells are cut off from the lateral pericentral cells by oblique divisions instead of transverse divisions as in C. ogasawaraensis. The second species was resolved as a closely related sister species to C. fluviatilis, with a minimum interspecific sequence divergence of 2.0%. It was morphologically indistinguishable from C. fluviatilis except for one potential character—mostly one, instead of multiple rhizoids, developing from rhizoid-bearing pericentral and marginal wing cells. It is herein described as Caloglossa manaticola Freshwater, Cath.E. Miller & Frankovich sp. nov.

Thelypteris sylva-nipponica, a new allotetraploid species in the Parathelypteris group (Thelypteridaceae)

A broad-leaved form of Thelypteris nipponica, usually called “var. borealis”, was identified as an allotetraploid originated from hybridization between two diploid species T. nipponica and T. musashiensis based on chromosome number, plastid rbcL sequence and nuclear gapCp “short” sequence. We found that the original material of Thelypteris nipponica var. borealis morphologically corresponds not to the plant widely known as “var. borealis” but to diploid T. nipponica. Therefore, we described the tetraploid distributed in Japan and China as a new species, Thelypteris sylva-nipponica.

Luisia yunnanensis (Orchidaceae; Epidendroideae), a new species from China: evidence from morphology and DNA analyses

Based on morphological and molecular evidence, Luisia yunnanensis (Epidendroideae, Orchidaceae), a new species from Yunnan, China, is described and illustrated. A detailed comparison between the newly discovered orchid and other members of Luisia is presented. Molecular analysis of nrITS and plastid DNA (matK, rbcL) sequence data show that L. yunnanensis is sister to L. filiformis with strong support.

New record of Grateloupia taiwanensis S.-M. Lin et H.-Y. Liang in Vietnam: Evidence of morphological observation and rbcL sequence analysis

Nguyen XV, Nguyen TH, Dao VH, Liao L. 2019. New record of Grateloupia taiwanensis S.-M. Lin et H.-Y. Liang in Vietnam: Evidence of morphological observation and rbcL sequence analysis. Biodiversitas 20: 688-695. Members of Grateloupia show highly diverse morphological traits, and this makes species classification more difficult. Samples were found growing with other marine algae nearshore, 3–5 m depth at Da Nang City. Morphological observation of vegetative and reproductive structures as well as phylogenetic analysis based on the large subunit of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate-carboxylase-oxygenase (rbcL) sequence confirmed its identification. Phylogeny of members of Grateloupia inferred from Bayesian Inference, Maximum Likelihood, Maximum Parsimony and Neighbour Joining indicated materials collected in Vietnam compared well with known G. taiwanensis from the type locality, with very little sequence divergence. Grateloupia taiwanensis S.-M. Lin et H.-Y. Liang is therefore reported for the first time from Vietnam.

Cymbidium daweishanense (Orchidaceae; Epidendroideae), a new species from China: evidence from morphological and molecular analyses

A new orchid species, Cymbidium daweishanense, from Yunnan Province, China, is described based on morphological and molecular analyses and illustrated. A detailed comparison between the newly discovered orchid and other members of Cymbidium was conducted. The new plant was similar to C. erythraeum, C. subgenus Cyperorchis, but differs in having smaller flowers, a lip free from even the basal margins of column and a glabrous column with many purple blotches. The phylogenetic analyses based on nuclear ribosomal ITS and plastid (matK, rbcL) sequence data support the status of C. daweishanense as a new species.