A DNA barcode library for woody plants in tropical and subtropical China

Abstract

The application of DNA barcoding has been significantly limited by the scarcity of reliable specimens and inadequate coverage and replication across all species. The deficiency of DNA barcode reference coverage is particularly striking for highly biodiverse subtropical and tropical regions. In this study, we present a comprehensive barcode library for woody plants in tropical and subtropical China. Our dataset includes a standard barcode library comprising the four most widely used barcodes (rbcL, matK, ITS, and ITS2) for 2,520 species from 4,654 samples across 49 orders, 144 families, and 693 genera, along with 79 samples identified at the genus level. This dataset also provides a super-barcode library consisting of 1,239 samples from 1,139 species, 411 genera, 113 families, and 40 orders. This newly developed library will serve as a valuable resource for DNA barcoding research in tropical and subtropical China and bordering countries, enable more accurate species identification, and contribute to the conservation and management of tropical and subtropical forests.

Fig. 1

The localities we collected specimens in tropical and subtropical China. Red dots represent sample sites of standard barcodes, while black triangles represent sample sites of super barcodes.

Fig. 2

The phylogenies constructed for 1,139 woody species of 1,239 samples using super barcodes and extracted standard barcodes in the tropical and subtropical China. (a) the standard barcode tree constructed with three standard barcodes (rbcL, matK and ITS) and (b) plastid genome tree constructed with 78 protein-coding genes from plastid genomes. Dots of different colors in the nodes represent the different levels of bootstrap supports. Different colored strips represent seven major taxonomic groups (Gymnosperms, basal angiosperms, Magnoliids, Monocots, basal eudicots, Superrosids, and Superasterids).