PHYLOGENETIC RELATIONSHIP OF GLYCYRRHIZA PLANTS BASED ON RBCL SEQUENCES

The nucleotide sequences of the ribulose-1.5-bisphosphate carboxylase/ oxygenase large subunit gene (rbcL) of Glycyrrhiza glabra, G. uralensi s, G. inflata, G. echinata, and G. pallidiflora have been determined t o construct the phylogenetic tree. In the phylogenetic tree based on t he rbcL sequences, the five Glycyrrhiza species were divided into two groups: the three glycyrrhizin-producing species G. glabra, G, uralens is, and G. inflata; and the two glycyrrhizin-nonproducing species G. e chinata and G. pallidiflora. Among the three glycyrrhizin-producing sp ecies, only two nucleotide substitutions were observed between the rbc L. sequence of G. glabra and G. uralensis, and the sequence of G. ural ensis was identical to that of G. inflata, indicating that the three g lycyrrhizin-producing species are closely related.