Molecular Phylogeny of Some Moss Taxa and Its Implications for Identification

Abstract

In this study,Forty six herbarium samples and one freshly collected sample were selected for morphological reinvestigation to confirm their identification. DNA was extracted and purified for PCR reaction; 17 samples were positive for both rbcLand ITS regions in addition to eight samples were positive for rbcLregion only.DNA sequencing analysis shows that 20 samples gave high quality for rbcL region, 13 for partial ITS and three for ITS1 regions with high quality sequences which were used in the Phylogenetic analysis. All 20 sequences of rbcL and three out of 16 ITS sequences were submitted to GenBank as a new record for mosses and the others 13 sequences of ITS regions were already identified on GenBank. Phylogenetic analysis was performed using these two loci by Maximum Likihood method using the obtained model of evolution.Two samples were omitted from final phylogenetic analysis because of conflicting data. The identification of Tortella nitida and Didymodon vinealis was proved by Phylogenetic analysis. The identification of 14 mosses was confirmed on the generic level but disapproved and therefore corrected specific level. Names of five samples were changed on both generic and specific level. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that our concept of morphological variation inside the same species must be wider.