Byoung-Hee Choi

Generic criteria and an infrageneric system for Hedysarum and related genera (Papilionoideae-Leguminosae)

New generic delimitations for Corethrodendron, Hedysarum, Sulla and Taverniera are proposed together with new infrageneric systems for Hedysarum, with special reference to morphological evidence. Hedysarum sect. Spinosissima is treated as a distinct genus Sulla, and H. sect. Hedysarum is newly circumscribed on the basis of its conserved type, H. alpinum. Hedysarum sections Crinifera, Multicaulia and Subacaulia are very similar to each other and are merged into an enlarged H. section Multicaulia. Hedysarum sect. Fruticosa is transferred to the genus Corethrodendron. On the other hand, Stracheya is reduced to a section of the genus Hedysarum. A key to the genera and the infrageneric taxa, their nomenclature, synonymy and short descriptions are provided.

A Study on Vascular Plants of Uninhabited Islands in the Deokjeok Archipelago

This study was carried out to investigate the flora of uninhabited Island in the Deokjeok Archipelago. The vascular plants which were collected in 5 times (from Jun. 2009 to Apr. 2010) were identified as 350 taxa in total, including 89 families, 231 genera, 309 species, 5 subspecies, 31 varieties, and 5 forms. There were many useful plants such as 2 taxa of Korean endemics and 2 taxa of rare plants which were proposed by the Korea Forest Service. The specially determined plants which were categorized as 5 degrees in all by the Ministry of Environment appeared as 49 taxa; Degree V was one taxon; Senecio nemorensis and IV was one taxon; Apocynum lancifolium and III was 2 taxa; Stauntonia hexaphylla, Hylotelephium spectabile and I was 45 taxa; Machilus thunbergii, Neolitsea sericea, Hedera rhombea, etc. Based on the plants which were approval objects when transfer overseas were 5 taxa, and 21 taxa of evergreen plants were recorded in the investigated area. The naturalized plants were identified as 15 taxa, and their naturalization ratio were found to be 4.2% respectively.

Phylogeography and genetic diversity of East Asian Neolitsea sericea (Lauraceae) based on variations in chloroplast DNA sequences

Neolitseasericea is an evergreen broad leaved tree in the warm-temperate regions of East Asia. This area is a hotspot for plant species richness and endemism caused by dynamic changes in land configuration during the Quaternary. However, the historical migration of such evergreen tree species is still poorly understood. In an attempt to reconstruct the phylogeographic history of N. sericea during the Quaternary, we identified the chloroplast DNA haplotypes of 287 individuals from 33 populations covering almost all of its geographic range. Analyses were based on sequence data from the trnL–F, psbC–trnS, and rps16 regions. Nine haplotypes were identified. The majority included ancestral types in the southwestern part of the main islands of Japan, with other region-specific haplotypes being found in populations on the Korean Peninsula, Taiwan (Isl. Lanyu), and elsewhere in Japan. A statistical parsimony network revealed two lineages derived from Japanese main islands. One was represented on the Korean Peninsula, the other on Isl. Lanyu. The current distribution of N. sericea has been shaped by colonization via land bridges. During the glacial periods, two primary, but separate migration routes were followed—from the southwestern part of the Japanese main islands to either the Korean Peninsula or Taiwan. In addition, we believe the Zhoushan populations were shaped by post-glacial processes through an ECS land bridge (East China Sea basin) from northern refugia that existed during the late Pleistocene.

Phylogenetic Relationships of New World Vicia (Leguminosae) Inferred from nrDNA Internal Transcribed Spacer Sequences and Floral Characters

Abstract The approximately 27 New World species of Vicia (tribe Fabeae, family Leguminosae) were classified into four stylar type groups as follows: (1) a laterally compressed and evenly hairy stylar type (Le-type) group, (2) a dorsiventrally compressed and abaxially tufted hairy stylar type (Dabt-type) group, (3) a dorsiventrally compressed and evenly hairy stylar type (De-type) group, and (4) V. leuncophaea that is characterized by an arcuate style with a dense ring of stylar hairs at a considerable distance from the stigma. In the present study, the stylar distinctions among the groups were confirmed by morphological and anatomical studies on the stylar characters of representative species of the groups. The phylogenetic positions of these groups were then assessed using molecular phylogenetic analysis based on sequences from the nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the representative species. The New World Le-type stylar group was revealed to be a sister group to the Old World Le-type stylar group. The New World Dabt-type stylar group and V. leucophaea are nested within the Old World Dabt-type stylar group. These New World groups were nested well within the Old World Vicia, suggesting that the New World diversification occurred relatively recently during the evolution of Vicia.

Phylogenetic significance of stylar features in genus Vicia (Leguminosae): an analysis with molecular phylogeny

Tribe Fabeae consists of five genera, Lathyrus (160 spp.), Lens (4–6 spp.), Pisum (2–3 spp.), Vavilovia (monotypic), and Vicia (160 spp.), and shows a diversity in stylar features. At least six different stylar types are known in the tribe. In order to reclassify the tribe at the rank of genus, we tried to discover apomorphies in stylar features using a molecular phylogenetic study. We surveyed internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences of nuclear ribosomal DNA of representative species, selected from each group having different types of styles in the tribe. We paid particular attention in sampling to members of Vicia section Vicilla, as stylar features are heterogeneous within this section. Consequently, our sample set included 15 species of section Vicilla, 23 species of other Fabeae, and two species of Trifolieae, which were used as a sister group of Fabeae. Based on our analysis, we found that a laterally compressed style and an abaxially tufted hairy style would be advanced against a dorsiventrally compressed style and an evenly hairy style, respectively, in genus Vicia. The species group, which shares the latter apomorphy, is composed of 56 species and was dispersed into 11 sections of two subgenera in the recent system of genus Vicia. We consider future revision of Fabeae should treat this species group as a single higher taxon.

ITS sequences and speciation on far easternIndigofera (Leguminosae)

The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of 18–26S nuclear ribosomal DNA was sequenced to address phylogenetic relationships and to measure the extent of differentiation among six species of the Far EasternIndigofera. ITS 1 had 230–240 base pairs (bp) long while ITS 2 had 211–213 bp long. The 5.8S rRNA coding region was 161 bp long. Sequence divergence calculated by Kimuras two parameter method between species ranged from 0.00 to 13.49%. A single most parsimonious tree was produced from 77 variable nucleotide sites, which had a consistency index of 0.97 and a retention index of 0.83. ITS sequence data suggested that the continental species ofI. kirilowii (2n=16) is diverged from the common ancestor of other species at first, and then the island species ofI. decora (2n=48) andI. venulosa and the Korean Peninsular species ofI. grandiflora (2n=16) andI. koreana (2n=32) are diverged from the ancestor. The molecular data supports that the speciation in the Far EasternIndigofera occurred with polyploidization from continental ancestor to peripheral peninsular and island species.

Genetic diversity and historical migration patterns of an endemic evergreen oak, Quercus acuta , across Korea and Japan, inferred from nuclear microsatellites

Forests dominated by broad-leaved evergreen trees cover a narrow zone of the southern coast of Korea as well as warm-temperate and subtropical regions of Japan. However, little is known about their establishment history, especially in Korea. Endemic Quercus acuta grows in Korea and Japan. We evaluated its genetic diversity, population structure, and degree of lineage admixture in terms of its distribution history. Analyses utilized seven nuclear microsatellites that were genotyped from 330 individuals of 16 populations. Genetic diversity was highest for the Japanese Kyushu populations. The allelic diversity of populations was similar between Jeju Island and Kyushu, implying that they are putative refugia. Although the mean FST value was very low, patterns for isolation-by-distance were strong and significant. Results from Bayesian clustering and Monmonier’s algorithm indicated that populations are roughly partitioned from west (Korea and Kyushu) to east (Japanese Honshu). Therefore, the two divisions within this species are demographically independent and may have arisen due to past fragmentation. In considering the mixed genetic structure between Korea and Kyushu populations, and the higher levels of genetic diversity in mainland Korea relative to Honshu, we hypothesized that this species has been able to survive within Jeju Island and Kyushu. Consequently, mainland Korea populations might have been shaped by range expansion that kept them well mixed from a continuous and large genetic resource.

Isolation and Characterization of 13 Microsatellite Loci from Korean Quercus acuta (Fagaceae)

Quercus acuta is an evergreen broadleaf tree that grows in the warm-temperate regions of Korea and Japan. Its habitats and populations are being destroyed, and a new northernmost limit of distribution has now been reported. To further our scientific understanding of its conservation and phylogeography, we isolated and characterized 13 microsatellite loci. An analysis of diversity was conducted among 35 individuals on Hong-do Island of Jeollanam-do, South Korea. Variability of the markers was also tested for 11 individuals from Jeju-do. At the population level, alleles numbered 2 to 12 and the observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.0909 to 0.9143 and from 0.0909 to 0.9364, respectively. Those 13 loci were also tested for cross-species amplification in three other evergreen Quercus species within the same subgenus Cyclobalanopsis. In all, 6 of 13 loci could be amplified for all three species. The microsatellite markers described here provide a powerful genetics tool for population, conservation, systematics, and phylogeographic studies, not only for Q. acuta but also for other evergreen Quercus species.

Isolation and characterization of ten microsatellite loci from Korean Astragalus mongholicus (Fabaceae)

Astragalus L. (Fabaceae), the largest angiosperm genus in the world, comprises about 3000 species. Members are found primarily in cold to warm arid and semiarid mountainous regions in the northern hemisphere and in South America (Chaudhary et al. 2008). Astragalus mongholicus Bunge is a perennial herb growing on mountainous grasslands in east Asia. Plants show great morphological variation and have been separated into geographical varieties (Chen and Zhu 1990; Xu and Podlech 2010). Although it has been known as A. membranaceus Bunge in regional flora (Iwatsuki et al. 2001; Li et al. 2001; Lee 2003), this name is illegitimate. Instead, it is now treated as a synonym, A. mongholicus (Xu and Podlech 2010). As an important pharmacological plant resource, roots from this species (Radix Astragali) contain various beneficial compounds, with properties that are immuno-modulating, memory-improving, anti-ageing, antiviral, anti-rhinoviral, and anti-tumour (Yip and Kwan 2006). In the inland regions of Korea, it is widely cultivated for medicinal purposes (Kim et al. 2000). A. membranaceus var. nakaianus Y. N. Lee is an endemic wild plant growing on the subalpine grasslands of Mt Halla on Jeju island, south Korea (Lee 2003). Because its area of distribution at Mt Halla is narrowly limited to only a few individual plants, this species is listed as ‘critically endangered’ in the Rare Plants Data Book in Korea (Korea National Arboretum 2008). It was previously described as a distinct species (A. nakaianus Y. N. Lee), separated from A. membranaceus because of its tufted stems and very small leaflets (Lee 1981). After that, it has now been merged into A. membranaceus, i.e., A. membranaceus var. nakaianus (Lee 2006). However, this name is also illegitimate, since a new name is not yet given, we use A. nakaianus as the valid name for this plant.

Complete plastid genome of Astragalus mongholicus var. nakaianus (Fabaceae).

Abstract The first complete plastid genome (plastome) of the largest angiosperm genus, Astragalus, was sequenced for the Korean endangered endemic species A. mongholicus var. nakaianus. Its genome is relatively short (123,633 bp) because it lacks an Inverted Repeat (IR) region. It comprises 110 genes, including four unique rRNAs, 30 tRNAs, and 76 protein-coding genes. Similar to other closely related plastomes, rpl22 and rps16 are absent. The putative pseudogene with abnormal stop codons is atpE. This plastome has no additional inversions when compared with highly variable plastomes from IRLC tribes Fabeae and Trifolieae. Our phylogenetic analysis confirms the non-monophyly of Galegeae.