Chloroplast DNA variation in Polygonatae (Liliaceae).

Abstract

cp DNA variations were examined in 16 species of 7 genera of the tribe Polygonatae for 50 probe-enzyme combinations to study phylogenetic relationship among genera and species. The shared fragments were counted, index of similarity and distance matrix calculated. The study supports the idea against monophyly of Polygonatae sensu lato. The results suggest that there are three monophyletic groups within Polygonatae sensu lato. Group I with genera Maianthmum, Smilacina and Disporopsis; group 11 with Uvularia and Disporum and group III with genera Prosartes and Clintonia. The differences between each group (estimated F value x 100 were 5.88-7.8 for group I and 11, 4.8-6.6 for I and III and 3.4-5.61 for II and II1. The distance within the genus Prosartes was 0.33-0.84, while it differed from Disporum in 3.4-5.52. The difference of Prosartes from Clintonia was 2.2, while between Disporum and Uvularia as 1.63-0.171. The RFLP studies turned out to be concordant to morphological data. The present findings support lumping of Smilacina in Maianthemum. The results support recent morphological, karyological and molecular arguments of restoration of genus Prosartes as an independent genus. The results also indicate that Uvularia is closly related to Disporum while Clintonia is closer to the genus Prosartes.