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Plant Biol (Stuttg) 2001; 3(6): 629-636
DOI: 10.1055/s-2001-19371
Original Paper
Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart ·New York

Secondary Structure of the ITS1 Transcript and its Application in a Reconstruction of the Phylogeny of Boraginales

M. Gottschling 1 , H. H. Hilger 1 , M. Wolf 2 , N. Diane 1
  • 1 Institut für Biologie, Systematische Botanik und Pflanzengeographie, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
  • 2 Leibniz-Institut für Gewässerökologie und Binnenfischerei, Abteilung Limnologie Geschichteter Seen, Stechlin-Neuglobsow, Germany
Further Information

Publication History

August 20, 2001

November 14, 2001

Publication Date:
02 January 2002 (online)

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Abstract

In this study, we present the possibilities for calculating systematic relationships on higher taxonomical levels based exclusively on ITS1. This is demonstrated for Boraginales (Boraginaceae s.str., Cordiaceae, Ehretiaceae, Heliotropiaceae, Hydrophyllaceae and Lennoaceae). Secondary structure of the ITS1 region is more conserved than the primary structure (i.e., sequence itself) and is therefore a tool for optimizing alignments. It increases the number of structural characters. Information inferred from the secondary structure enables us to construct well-resolved phylogenetic trees at higher taxonomic levels. A general secondary structure of ITS1 for Boraginales, with four major helices, is proposed here. In each subtaxon, derivations from this structure are found. The paraphyly of Boraginaceae s.l. is evident from both a comparison of secondary structures and from bootstrap analysis. Boraginaceae s.str. are the sister group of a clade formed by Hydrophyllaceae, Cordiaceae, Ehretiaceae, Heliotropiaceae and Lennoaceae. The last four taxa constitute a monophyletic group which is the sister group of Hydrophyllaceae. Lennoaceae are closely related to Ehretiaceae, and these two taxa in turn are the sister group of Cordiaceae.

Key words

Alignment - Boraginales - ITS1 - molecular systematics - phylogeny - secondary structure

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M. Gottschling

Institut für Biologie
Systematische Botanik und Pflanzengeographie
Freie Universität Berlin

Altensteinstraße 6
14195 Berlin, Germany

Email: caix@zedat.fu-berlin.de

Section Editor: F. Salamini