Genetic diversity among clumps of Acanthorrhynchium papillatum (Harv.) M.Fleisch. as measured by variation in ITS2 sequences

Abstract

Population genetic variation in the tropical moss species Acanthorrhynchium papillatum was evaluated using nucleotide sequences of the second Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS2) region of the nuclear ribosomal DNA. High levels of variation were observed at both nucleotide and haplotype levels using this marker, indicating that the various populations in southern Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore have been genetically isolated to a large extent over time despite short spatial distances between some of the populations. Sequence analysis suggests that ITS2 diversity arises from high rates of mutation at this locus. In common with earlier results from microsatellite marker analysis, these results demonstrate that the genetic diversity of mosses may be high, as with higher plant species. Overall, relatively lower levels of diversity were seen in ITS2 loci compared to microsatellite markers. Thus the ITS2 region can be a useful additional DNA marker for analysing genetic diversity in this moss species.

Keywords:

• Acanthorrhynchium papillatum
• Genetic diversity
• ITS2 sequences
• Plant population genetics
• Tropical rain forest moss

AAPL was the recipient of a research scholarship from the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the research was funded by NUS grants. Specimen collection in Singapore was facilitated by the National Parks Board and in southern Peninsular Malaysia by Professor Haji Mohamed, University of Malaya, Malaysia.

Taxonomic Additions and Changes: Nil.