DNA Barcode Identification of New Yellow Camellia Species: Endangered Plant Species in North Vietnam

Mai Hai Chau, Hoàng Trang and Ha Huan

Background and Objectives: DNA barcoding has been proposed as a powerful tool for identifying, confirming species and genetic relationships among species. Using DNA barcoding can overcome problems of morphological-based species identification. In this study, DNA barcode sequences (matK, rbcL, trnH-psbA, ycf1b and ITS2) were identified for five new yellow Camellia species (Camellia tienii Ninh, Camellia hakodae Ninh, Tr., Camellia crassiphylla Ninh et Hakoda, Camellia tamdaoensis Hakoda et Ninh and Camellia petelotii (Merr.) Sealy) in North Vietnam. Materials and Methods: The leaf specimens of five yellow Camellia species were used for extraction of total DNA using a plant isolation kit. The five DNA barcode fragments were amplified by PCR technique and sequenced by the Sanger method. Results: The result showed that their size was 945-951, 599, 502-510, 750-762 and 397-399 bp, respectively. The genetic distance was calculated and indicated that no locus is suitable to be the specific DNA barcode for the identification of these species. However, the combination of ycf1b+ITS2 loci was the most effective to identify five yellow camellia species in North Vietnam, followed by the combinations of loci rbcL+trnH-psbA+ITS2, trnH-psbA+ycf1b+ITS2. Conclusion: The result revealed the genetic relationship among five researched yellow Camellia species and with other species. In which the Camellia tienii Ninh, Camellia hakodae Ninh and Camellia petelotii (Merr.) Sealy was on the same branch whereas Camellia crassiphylla Ninh et Hakoda and Camellia tamdaoensis Hakoda et Ninh were on the other.

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