Phylogenetic study using morphological traits and SRAP markers: genus Syringa

Abstract

There are over 150 plant species in the genus Syringa L., which are known to have high practical values. In the DPR Korea grow 13 Syringa species, some of them are endemic, and Syringa palibiniana Nak. and Syringa micrantha Nak. are also ornamental and medicinal plant. But in some literature, their scientific names are noted to be synonyms of S. pubescens subsp. patula. In the presented study, we carried out morphological analysis and phylogentic analysis based on SRAP markers to clarify the taxonomic positions of these plants. Phylogenetic analysis was performed for 12 species of six genera of Oleaceae distributed in the DPR Korea. Firstly, was analized the morphological traits of these species including the traits of flowers, leaves and fruits. Secondly, was compared the result with the molecular phylogenetic tree built by UPGMA method using SRAP markers and the genetic structrure (K=12).Morphological analysis showed that S. palibiniana and S. micrantha have some differences in the traits of leaves and flowers. According to the SRAP analysis, they diverged at the species level, supporting the taxonomic status of these two plants as independent species respectively. The results of this study using morphological traits and SRAP markers support the independent taxonomic positions of S. micrantha and S. palibiniana. This research suggests that SRAP markers would be useful in the phylogenetic studies based on molecular information as well as DNA barcording.