Preliminary Phylogenetic Analysis and DNA Barcoding of Endemic and Threatened Silene species in Türkiye using ITS and rps16 Intron Markers

Abstract

The genus Silene (Caryophyllaceae) is one of the most species-rich groups in Türkiye, with 180 recognized taxa, 63 of which are endemic. Despite their ecological and conservation importance, the phylogenetic relationships of many endemic and threatened taxa remain unresolved. Here, we investigated twelve Turkish Silene taxa, including four endemics, using nuclear ribosomal ITS and chloroplast rps16 intron sequences. The concatenated dataset (1517 bp) contained 108 polymorphic sites and provided strong phylogenetic signal. Bayesian analyses revealed two well-supported clades: (i) Lasiostemones, Sclerocalycine, and Nanosilene; and (ii) Spergulifoliae and Auriculatae. Notable markers included a unique 38-bp insertion in S. argaea and several section-specific substitutions. This study represents the first integrated DNA barcoding and phylogenetic analysis of endangered Turkish Silene taxa, highlighting the utility of combined ITS and rps16 intron markers for species identification and resolving phylogenetic relationships, while providing a genetic baseline for the conservation of these rare taxa.

Keywords

• Endemic
• Molecular phylogeny
• Silene
• Türkiye

Project Number

Van Yüzüncü Yıl University, the Scientific Research Project Foundation project number FBA-2024-10834

ITS ve rps16 İntron Bölgeleri Kullanılarak Türkiye'deki Endemik ve Tehdit Altındaki Silene Türlerinin Ön Filogenetik Analizi ve DNA Barkodlaması

Abstract

Silene cinsi (Caryophyllaceae), 63'ü endemik olmak üzere 180 takson ile Türkiye'deki tür bakımından en zengin gruplardan biridir. Ekolojik ve koruma açısından önemlerine rağmen, birçok endemik ve tehdit altındaki taksonun filogenetik ilişkileri henüz çözülmemiştir. Bu çalışmada, 4'ü endemik olmak üzere Türkiyede yetişen 12 Silene taksonu, çekirdek ribozomal ITS ve kloroplast rps16 intron dizileri kullanılarak incelenmiştir. Birleştirilmiş veri seti (1517 bp), 108 polimorfik nukleotit içermekte ve güçlü filogenetik sinyal sağlamaktadır. Bayesyen analizleri iyi desteklenen iki klad ortaya koymuştur: (i) Lasiostemones, Sclerocalycine ve Nanosilene; ve (ii) Spergulifoliae ve Auriculatae. Önemli sonuçlar arasında S. argaea'da bulunan benzersiz bir 38-bp insersiyon ve birkaç seksiyona özgü substitüsyon yer almaktadır. Bu çalışma, nesli tehlike altındaki Türk Silene türlerinin ilk DNA barkod analizini temsil etmekte, ilişkilerin çözülmesinde kombine edilmiş ITS ve rps16 intron bölgelerinin faydasını vurgulamakta ve bu nadir taksonların korunması için genetik bir temel sağlamaktadır.

Keywords

• Endemik
• moleküler filogeni
• Silene
• Türkiye

Project Number

Van Yüzüncü Yıl University, the Scientific Research Project Foundation project number FBA-2024-10834

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