DNA Taxonomy - the Riddle of Oxychloë (Juncaceae)

Kim Anker Kristiansen; Malene Skovsted Cilieborg; Lenka Drábková; Tina Jørgensen; Gitte Petersen; Ole Seberg

doi:10.1600/0363644054223710

DNA Taxonomy - the Riddle of Oxychloë (Juncaceae)

Kim Anker Kristiansen, Malene Skovsted Cilieborg, Lenka Drábková, Tina Jørgensen, Gitte Petersen, Ole Seberg

21 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Recently, advocates of DNA taxonomy have complained that there is inadequate control of the taxonomy in databases such as GenBank. This is correct, but the uncertainty may be extended to the sequences themselves. The present study shows that as long as vouchers are available neither problem is fatal, but if no voucher exists, bad sequences and bad taxonomy may be forever linked. Previous phylogenetic analyses of rbcL sequences have indicated that the small, south hemisphere, genus Oxychloë (Juncaceae) surprisingly either is embedded within or is a sister group to the Cyperaceae. This is not in accordance with traditional or current morphological data. By studying five new accessions, representing four species of Oxychloë, and re-examining the two vouchers of O. andina that were used in previous phylogenies, it has been possible to show that these two sequences are erroneous. One is a chimeric sequence and the other is most likely ''a contaminant.''

Original language	English
Journal	Systematic Botany
Volume	30
Issue number	2
Pages (from-to)	284-289
ISSN	0363-6445
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1600/0363644054223710
Publication status	Published - 2005

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title = "DNA Taxonomy - the Riddle of Oxychlo{\"e} (Juncaceae)",

abstract = "Recently, advocates of DNA taxonomy have complained that there is inadequate control of the taxonomy in databases such as GenBank. This is correct, but the uncertainty may be extended to the sequences themselves. The present study shows that as long as vouchers are available neither problem is fatal, but if no voucher exists, bad sequences and bad taxonomy may be forever linked. Previous phylogenetic analyses of rbcL sequences have indicated that the small, south hemisphere, genus Oxychlo{\"e} (Juncaceae) surprisingly either is embedded within or is a sister group to the Cyperaceae. This is not in accordance with traditional or current morphological data. By studying five new accessions, representing four species of Oxychlo{\"e}, and re-examining the two vouchers of O. andina that were used in previous phylogenies, it has been possible to show that these two sequences are erroneous. One is a chimeric sequence and the other is most likely ''a contaminant.''",

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T1 - DNA Taxonomy - the Riddle of Oxychloë (Juncaceae)

AU - Kristiansen, Kim Anker

AU - Cilieborg, Malene Skovsted

AU - Drábková, Lenka

AU - Jørgensen, Tina

AU - Petersen, Gitte

AU - Seberg, Ole

PY - 2005

Y1 - 2005

N2 - Recently, advocates of DNA taxonomy have complained that there is inadequate control of the taxonomy in databases such as GenBank. This is correct, but the uncertainty may be extended to the sequences themselves. The present study shows that as long as vouchers are available neither problem is fatal, but if no voucher exists, bad sequences and bad taxonomy may be forever linked. Previous phylogenetic analyses of rbcL sequences have indicated that the small, south hemisphere, genus Oxychloë (Juncaceae) surprisingly either is embedded within or is a sister group to the Cyperaceae. This is not in accordance with traditional or current morphological data. By studying five new accessions, representing four species of Oxychloë, and re-examining the two vouchers of O. andina that were used in previous phylogenies, it has been possible to show that these two sequences are erroneous. One is a chimeric sequence and the other is most likely ''a contaminant.''

AB - Recently, advocates of DNA taxonomy have complained that there is inadequate control of the taxonomy in databases such as GenBank. This is correct, but the uncertainty may be extended to the sequences themselves. The present study shows that as long as vouchers are available neither problem is fatal, but if no voucher exists, bad sequences and bad taxonomy may be forever linked. Previous phylogenetic analyses of rbcL sequences have indicated that the small, south hemisphere, genus Oxychloë (Juncaceae) surprisingly either is embedded within or is a sister group to the Cyperaceae. This is not in accordance with traditional or current morphological data. By studying five new accessions, representing four species of Oxychloë, and re-examining the two vouchers of O. andina that were used in previous phylogenies, it has been possible to show that these two sequences are erroneous. One is a chimeric sequence and the other is most likely ''a contaminant.''

U2 - 10.1600/0363644054223710

DO - 10.1600/0363644054223710

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0363-6445

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JO - Systematic Botany

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DNA Taxonomy - the Riddle of Oxychloë (Juncaceae)

Abstract

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