Identification of Vietnamese Native Rhododendron and Enkianthus Species of Ericaceae Family Based on Ribosomal DNA Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) Sequence

The genusRhododendronandEnkianthusare belonging theEricaceaefamily. In Vietnam there have diversified with 12 genera and about 90 species, of which morerhododendrons30 species with beautiful flowers and two ofEnkianthusspecies, widely distributed across the regions of the country. In this study, twelve Vietnamese nativeRhododendronandEnkianthusspecies collected from Quang Ninh province were identified based on sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of nuclear ribosomal DNA. Comparison on sequencing among 12 Vietnamese nativeRhododendronandEnkianthuswith world'sRhododendronandEnkianthusspecies, we have determined the accurate same pattern the 5/10 species by recognition molecule forms such as DQ2, DQ5, DQ6, DQ7, DQ8 and five species as DQ1, DQ9, DQ10, DQ11 and DQ12 were determined in genusRhododendronspecies. Two varieties ofEnkianthusas DQ3 and DQ4 were identified asEnkianthus quinqueflorus. Although the species is still limited but the ITS sequences application revealed the strength of promotion of universal DNA barcode in the delimitation of species and subspecies level for plant group flowering.