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Molecular a-Taxonomy of
a Morphologically Simple Fern
Asplenium nidus Complex from
Mt. Halimun National Park,
Indonesia
NORIAKI MURAKAMI i , YOKO YATABE!, HISAKO IWASAKI!, DEDY DARNAEDI 2 , AND
KUNIO IWATSUKI 3
I Department of Botany, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, KitashirakawaOiwake-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
2 Botanical Gardens, Bogor, JI. Ir. H. Juanda 13, Bogor 16122, Indonesia
3 Faculty of Science, Rikkyo University, 3-34-1 Nishi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo
171-0021, Japan
Abstract
Asplenium nidus is one ofthe most common epiphytic fern species in the Old World
tropics. It has simple leaves without any particular appendages, and the lack of
good species recognition might be due to the lack of good taxonomic characters.
Recently, it has become easier to collect DNA nucleotide sequence data from wild
plants using peR and direct sequencing tcchniques. This kind of molecular information has mostly been used for·phylogenetic analyses, but can also be useful for ataxonomy (r,?cognition of naturally existing species). In this work, we made a detailed analysis of the genetic variation of A. nidus in one locality, Mt. Halimun
National Park, West Java, Indonesia. We collected leaf materials from 25 individuals, all identified as A. nidus according to the most recent monograph of the group
by Holttum (1974). We found three types of rbeL sequences and there was variation
at 30 sites out of 1,227 bp. Moreover, we found good correlation among rbeL types,
some morphological characters (leaf shape and size, sorus length) and ecological
traits (habitats and altitudes). DNA nucleotide sequence information might be useful as a primary key even for a-taxonomy, especially for morphologically simple
organisms like ferns.
Key words. a-taxonomy, Asplenium sect. Thamnopteris, Asplenium nidus, fern, habitat,
Halimun National Park, molecular taxonomy, rbeL - species complex
53
Molecular a-Taxonomy of
a Morphologically Simple Fern
Asplenium nidus Complex from
Mt. Halimun National Park,
Indonesia
NORIAKI MURAKAMI i , YOKO YATABE!, HISAKO IWASAKI!, DEDY DARNAEDI 2 , AND
KUNIO IWATSUKI 3
I Department of Botany, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, KitashirakawaOiwake-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
2 Botanical Gardens, Bogor, JI. Ir. H. Juanda 13, Bogor 16122, Indonesia
3 Faculty of Science, Rikkyo University, 3-34-1 Nishi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo
171-0021, Japan
Abstract
Asplenium nidus is one ofthe most common epiphytic fern species in the Old World
tropics. It has simple leaves without any particular appendages, and the lack of
good species recognition might be due to the lack of good taxonomic characters.
Recently, it has become easier to collect DNA nucleotide sequence data from wild
plants using peR and direct sequencing tcchniques. This kind of molecular information has mostly been used for·phylogenetic analyses, but can also be useful for ataxonomy (r,?cognition of naturally existing species). In this work, we made a detailed analysis of the genetic variation of A. nidus in one locality, Mt. Halimun
National Park, West Java, Indonesia. We collected leaf materials from 25 individuals, all identified as A. nidus according to the most recent monograph of the group
by Holttum (1974). We found three types of rbeL sequences and there was variation
at 30 sites out of 1,227 bp. Moreover, we found good correlation among rbeL types,
some morphological characters (leaf shape and size, sorus length) and ecological
traits (habitats and altitudes). DNA nucleotide sequence information might be useful as a primary key even for a-taxonomy, especially for morphologically simple
organisms like ferns.
Key words. a-taxonomy, Asplenium sect. Thamnopteris, Asplenium nidus, fern, habitat,
Halimun National Park, molecular taxonomy, rbeL - species complex
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