A Molecular Phylogeny of Panax L. Genus (Araliaceae) Based on ITS-rDNA and matK Support for Identification of Panax Species in Vietnam
Authors: Thi Ngoc Pham , Thanh Huyen Pham , Quynh Nga Nguyen , Van Truong Phan , Minh Khoi Nguyen , Doan Long Dinh 
Published: June 2020

Panax L. is a small genus in the Araliaceae family. In Vietnam, this genus is distributed in the high mountains in the North and in some high mountains in the Central Highlands. In traditional medicine, roots and rhizomes of all Panax species are of high utility. Recently, the finding of new distributions of some Panax species in Vietnam has caused much controversy and confusion. This study investigates 27 fresh specimens of 6 taxa of Panax genus that have been collected from 6 provinces of Vietnam. Based on the combined ITS-rDNA and matK dataset, a well-resolved phylogeny of Panax species/varieties distributed in Vietnam was constructed. Thereby, the study suggests identifying Tam that la xe as Panax stipuleanatus H.T.Tsai et K.M.Feng and Sam puxailaileng as Panax vietnamensis var. fuscidiscus K.Komatsu, S.Zhu & S.Q.Cai, which contributes a new distribution point of this variety in Vietnam. The study also shows that ITS-rDNA and matK genes are highly potential in identifying and distinguishing the taxa of Panax genus.
Keywords
Panax, ginseng, molecular phylogeny, taxonomy, ITS-rDNA, matK.
References
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