Phylogenetic Analysis of the DNA Sequence of the Non-Coding Region of Nuclear Ribosomal DNA and Chloroplast ofEphedraPlants in China

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Twenty-four Ephedra plants belonging to 8 species grown in the northern and western parts of China were phylogenetically analyzed for their non-coding DNA sequences, internal transcribed spacers (ITSs) of nuclear ribosomal DNA as well as trnL intron and intergenic spacers between trnL and trnF ( trnL / trnF ) of the chloroplast. Based on the ITS sequences, the 8 species could be divided into 3 groups: Group 1 ( Ephedra intermedia, E. sinica, E. przewalskii ), Group 2 ( E. equisetina, E. monosperma, E. gerardiana ), and Group 3 ( E. likiangensis, E. minuta ). The species classified into Group 1 grow mainly in the north, Group 3 in the south and Group 2 in the center, suggesting their genetic and geographic relationships. A specific primer set was designed to classify the 3 groups by routine PCR. Combined analysis of ITS and trnL / trnF differentiated the 8 Ephedra species. Abbreviations ITS1:internal transcribed spacer 1 ITS2:internal transcribed spacer 2 trnL/trnF :intron of trnL and intergenic spacer between trnL and trnF EI: Ephedra intermedia ES: Ephedra sinica EP: Ephedra przewalskii EE: Ephedra equisetina EM: Ephedra monosperma EG: Ephedra gerardiana EL: Ephedra likiangensis EMu: Ephedra minuta