Using DNA-based techniques to identify hybrids among linear-leaved Potamogeton plants collected in China

• Published in: Journal of systematics and evolution : JSE Vol. 48; no. 4; pp. 265 - 270
• Main Authors: DU, Zhi-Yuan, YANG, Chun-Feng, CHEN, Jin-Ming, GUO, You-Hao, KADIRI, Akeem Babalola
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Malden, USA Blackwell Publishing Inc 01.07.2010; Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, China; Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, China%Laboratary of Plant Systematics and Evolutionary Biology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China%Department of Botany and Microbiology, University of Lagos, Lagos 100213, Nigeria
• Subjects: hybridization; internal transcribed spacer; ITS序列; Potamogeton; rbcL; 中线性; 核糖体DNA; 眼子菜; 种间杂种; hybridization; rbcL; internal transcribed spacer; Potamogeton
• ISSN: 1674-4918; 1759-6831
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1759-6831.2010.00089.x

It is well known that interspecific hybrids occur in the genus Potamogeton. The linear-leaved Potamogeton species commonly have highly variable morphological characteristics. Their hybrids often show similar vegetative characters to their parental species and their identification based solely on morphology is not always conclusive. In order to clarify whether there are any hybrids from the linear-leaved Potamogeton plants collected in China, we used internal transcribed spacers （ITS） of nuclear ribosomal DNA and chloroplast rbcL gene sequences to identify the hybrids. Using ITS sequence additivity, we identified four hybrids, namely P. orientalis （P. pusillus × P. oxyphyllus）, P pusillus × P. berchtoldii, P foliosus × P octandrus, and P. cristatus × P octandrus. The latter three hybrids should be considered as new hybrids in Potamogeton. The maternal parents of the four hybrids were confirmed using chloroplast rbcL gene sequences.