Genetic Characterization of Cyperaceae: Insights from DNA Barcoding Analysis of Cyperus difformis L., Cyperus stolonifer Retz., and Cyperus rotundus L.

Abstract

DNA barcoding in the land plants presents a number of challenges compared to DNA barcoding in many animal clades. The CO1 animal DNA barcode is not effective for plants. Plant species hybridize frequently, and there are many cases of recent speciation via mechanisms, such as polyploidy and breeding system transitions. Additionally, there are many life-history trait combinations, which combine to reduce the likelihood of a small number of markers effectively tracking plant species boundaries. Sampling techniques, extraction protocols, and PCR methods for each of these two cores and two supplementary plant DNA barcode regions, with extensive notes supporting their implementation for both low- and high- throughput facilities are described. Recent results, however, from the two chosen core plant DNA barcode regions rbcL and matK plus two supplementary regions trnH-psbA and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) (or Its2) have demonstrated reasonable levels of species discrimination in both floristic and taxonomically focused studies.