Planta Med 2011; 77(2): 182-187
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1250166
Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology
Original Papers
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

DNA Barcoding of Panax Species

Yunjuan Zuo1 , 3 , Zhongjian Chen2 , Katsuhiko Kondo4 , Tsuneo Funamoto5 , Jun Wen1 , 6 , Shiliang Zhou1
  • 1State Key Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany, Institute of Botany, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P. R. China
  • 2Wenshan Institute of Sanqi Research, Wenshan, Yunnan, P. R. China
  • 3Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P. R. China
  • 4Laboratory of Plant Genetics and Breeding Science, Department of Agriculture, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Atsugi City, Japan
  • 5Biological Institute, Fundamental Education and Research Center of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Showa Pharmaceutical University, Tokyo, Japan
  • 6Department of Botany, United States National Herbarium, National Museum of Natural History, MRC-166, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA
Further Information

Publication History

received March 8, 2010 revised June 18, 2010

accepted June 30, 2010

Publication Date:
27 August 2010 (online)

Abstract

Ginsengs (Panax, Araliaceae) are among the plants best known for their medicinal properties. Many ginseng species are endangered due to over-exploitation of natural resources – a situation difficult to remedy while there are no reliable, practical methods for species identification. We screened eleven candidate DNA barcoding loci to establish an accurate and effective Panax species identification system, both for commercial and conservation purposes. We used 95 ginseng samples, representing all the species in the genus. We found considerable differences in the performance of the potential barcoding regions. The sequencing of atpF-atpH was unsuccessful due to poly-N structures. The rbcL, rpoB, and rpoC1 regions were found to be mostly invariable, with only four to eight variable sites. Using matK, psbK‐I, psbM-trnD, rps16 and nad1, we could identify four to six out of eight considerably divergent species but only one to five out of nineteen clusters within the P. bipinnatifidus species group. psbA-trnH and ITS were the most variable loci, working very well both in species and cluster identifications. We demonstrated that the combination of psbA-trnH and ITS is sufficient for identifying all the species and clusters in the genus.

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Prof. Dr. Jun Wen (Author responsible for plant material)

Department of Botany
United States National Herbarium
National Museum of Natural History
MRC-166
Smithsonian Institution

Washington, DC 20013-7012

USA

Phone: +12 0 26 33 48 81

Fax: +12 0 27 86 25 63

Email: wenj@si.edu

Prof. Dr. Shiliang Zhou (Author responsible for DNA barcoding)

State Key Laboratory of Systematic and Evolutionary Botany
Institute of Botany
The Chinese Academy of Sciences

100093 Beijing

People's Republic of China

Phone: +86 10 62 83 65 03

Fax: +86 10 62 59 08 43

Email: slzhou@ibcas.ac.cn