Molecular Identification and Evaluation of the Genetic Diversity of Species Collected in Southern Vietnam.

has been widely used not only as ornamental plants but also as food and medicines. The identification and evaluation of the genetic diversity of species support the conservation of genetic resources of endemic species. Uniquely identifying species used as medicines helps avoid misuse of medicinal herbs. However, it is challenging to identify species morphologically during their immature stage. Based on the DNA barcoding method, it is now possible to efficiently identify species in a shorter time. In this study, the genetic diversity of 76 samples from Southern Vietnam was investigated based on the ITS (Internal transcribed spacer), ITS2, K (Maturase_K), L (ribulose-bisphosphate carboxylase large subunit) and HA (the internal space of the gene coding histidine transfer RNA (trnH) and gene coding protein D1, a polypeptide of the photosystem I reaction center (psaB)) regions. The ITS region was found to have the best identification potential. Nineteen out of 24 species were identified based on phylogenetic tree and Indel information of this region. Among these, seven identified species were used as medicinal herbs. The results of this research contributed to the conservation, propagation, and hybridization of indigenous species in Southern Vietnam.