The molecular phylogenetic analysis of selected Galanthus species from Northwest Turkey

Abstract

The molecular phylogenetic relationship of the Galanthus taxa found in Northwest Turkeywas investigated. Galanthus plicatus subsp. byzantinus, Galanthus nivalis and theirpotential hybrid Galanthus xvalentinei nothosubsp. subplicatus were analyzed using ribosomal DNA (ITS) region and chloroplast introns (trnL(UAA) intron, intragenic spacerbetween trnL(UAA)-trnF(GAA)). The samples morphologically identified as G. nivalisand found in Turkey, did not genetically match G. nivalis recognized in Europe, they wereidentical to the samples defined as G. xvalentinei nothosubsp. subplicatus. G. xvalentinei nothosubsp. subplicatus samples showed no indications of recent hybridization orinstability in any of the molecular markers examined. They were placed on a separate nodeindicating a genetically stable taxonomic unit, showing a range of morphological markers.The samples morphologically identified as G. plicatus subsp. byzantinus were on thenuclear DNA level very similar to G. plicatus. The chloroplast sequences, however, werevery similar to those of G. xvalentinei nothosubsp. subplicatus. This could be indicative ofan ancient hybrid but currently a stable species. These results show that the presence of G.nivalis in Turkey seems highly unlikely, and that G. xvalentinei nothosubsp. subplicatusshould be defined as a separate stable taxonomic unit that requires recognition and further population ecology research.