Using the ITS and trnL-F sequence data molecular phylogenetic studies were conducted to reveal genetic differentiation and diversity, and to test the taxonomic status of sub-specific group within Korean Euphorbia ebracteolata. Based on the UPGMA trees...
Using the ITS and trnL-F sequence data molecular phylogenetic studies were conducted to reveal genetic differentiation and diversity, and to test the taxonomic status of sub-specific group within Korean Euphorbia ebracteolata. Based on the UPGMA trees using ITS and trnL-F sequence data, eight haplotypes in ITS, and 9 types in trnL-F were founded in 27 individuals of 9 E. ebracteolata populations, and they show a high genetic variation in Korean populations. These data strongly support the previous isozyme analyses which also showed a high genetic variation of Korean E. ebracteolata populations. The high genetic variation and significant low differentiation among populations should be explained by the strict outcrossing nature via small insects and long distance dispersal of seeds by water currents. Even though E. ebracteolata var. coreana and E. ebracteolata for. magna were described based on the morphological difference, they did not have any unique molecular type in this study, and couldn’t be supported.