[Molecular authentication of Dendrobium chrysanthum from its allied species of Dendrobium].

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To define molecular characters to distinguish D. chrysanthum from its allied species D. primulinum, D. lituiflorum, D. aphyllum, D. crepidatum. METHOD: The molecular characteristics of D. chrysanthum and its allied species were compared. The sequences of rDNA ITS regions were exploited to explore the evidence for authentication D. chrysanthum and its allied species. RESULT: Although the morphological difference was slight, the sequence difference of ITS regions among five rDNAs was obvious and stable. Fifteen sites of ITS region were defined as DNA character to identify D. chrysanthum from the other four allied species. CONCLUSION: The difference of rDNA ITS sequences can be used to authenticate accurately D. chrysanthum from three allied species of Dendrobium.