Identification of Dian Ji Xue Teng (Kadsura interior) with DNA barcodes

Objective: To identify Kadsura interior (Dian Ji Xue Teng, Schisandraceae) by using DNA barcoding. Methods: We analyzed five DNA barcodes (ITS, ITS2, psbA-trnH, matK and rbcL) using DNA barcoding in terms of distance-based, tree-based and character-based identification to distinguish Kadsura interior and its adulterants. Results: In distance-based and tree-based identification, K. interior could be distinguished easily from the species of Schisandra and K. coccinea. In character-based identification, there are two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in ITS and one SNP in psbA-trnH which can be used to distinguish K. interior from K. heteroclita and K. longipedunculata. Conclusion: The results indicate that DNA barcoding can be used to identify K. interior. ITS and psbA-trnH sequence can be the most ideal DNA barcode for discriminating K. interior and its adulterants by the combination analysis of distance-based, tree-based and character-based identification (SNPs).