Molecular identification of an endemic species Tectaria paradoxa (fee) sledge (family tectariaceae) from India

Abstract

The genus Tectaria Cav., family Tectariaceae, was studied from the Western Ghats, a world biodiversity hotspot. During field work, the authors collected an interesting species of Tectaria. After reviewing the literature, comparing it with the type specimen, and consulting various online herbaria, it was identified as Tectaria paradoxa (Fee) Sledge. Earlier researchers misidentified the species as T. coadunata (J. Sm.) C. Chr. or T. fuscipes (Wall. ex Bedd.) C. Chr. Further, molecular identification of the species was done by analysing the chloroplast DNA regions using rbcL marker and generated sequences. After construction of the phylogenetic tree / phylogeny, it was noted that T. paradoxa forms a clade with T. kusukusensis (Hayata) Lellinger. It was also noted that existing sequences of T. paradoxa available in the NCBI database merge with T. coadunata or T. gemmifera (Fee) Alston. Thus, the present study confirms the molecular identity of T. paradoxa for the first time, and sequences have been deposited under the name Tectaria paradoxa at NCBI database (Acc. No. MN119733) and BOLD data system (ID-MIPDG035-18).