Phylogeny of the European species of the genus Pellia (Hepaticae; Metzgeriales) based on the molecular data from nuclear tRNA(CAA)(Leu) intergenic sequences
P. Fiedorow et al., Phylogeny of the European species of the genus Pellia (Hepaticae; Metzgeriales) based on the molecular data from nuclear tRNA(CAA)(Leu) intergenic sequences, GENE, 262(1-2), 2001, pp. 309-315
Species of the genus Pellia are similar to such an extent that their proper
recognition based on morphological and anatomical features is difficult. T
o solve this problem isozyme methods were developed. As a result of these s
tudies new cryptic species were recognized and new hypotheses concerning ph
ylogenetic relationship in Pellia were formed. To examine hypotheses derive
d from isozyme data we decided to study species of the genus Pellia at the
DNA level. Total DNA from all Polish Pellia species was isolated. The taxon
omic and phylogenetic relationships in Pellia were examined using intergeni
c spacer sequences between nuclear rRNA(Leu) genes organised in tandem arra
ys. PCR (polymerase chain reaction) amplification of tRNA(Leu) gene spacers
produced fragments of different sizes in all species and their restriction
analysis showed species-specific patterns. PCR products were cloned and se
quenced. Nucleotide sequence data were used for phylogenetic reconstruction
. Sequence analysis confirmed previous results based on isozyme studies tha
t P. endiviifolia- species A and species B as well as P. epiphylla-species
S and species N (having different isozyme multilocus genotypes) are separat
e sibling species. Our results also confirmed the allopolyploid character o
f the only polyploid species in Pellia, P. borealis which was formed by hyb
ridization of P. epiphylla- species N and P. epiphylla- species S cryptic s
pecies. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.