Systematic reinstatement of highly sacred Ficus krishnae based on differences in morphology and DNA barcoding from Ficus benghalensis (Moraceae)

By

Mahima, Karthikeyan
Senthilkumar, Umapathy
Sudhakar, Jana Venkata
Ramalingam, Sathishkumar

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2021

Original Publication

PhytoKeys

Volume

186

Pages

121--138

Subjects

Bayesian analysis , conspecifics , Ficus , ITS2 region , species delimitation

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers [2010]-

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.186.74086

 

Abstract

Ficus krishnae is considered as native to India and is well-known for the peculiarity in nature of its cup-shaped leaves where both the vernacular name (Krishna Fig) and specific epithet were derived. The taxonomic status of Ficus krishnae is still unclear and currently treated as a subspecies or variety under Ficus benghalensis. In the present study, morphological characters and molecular analysis were employed to address their species delimitation. The spacer markers ITS2 and trnH-psbA were used for constructing phylogenetic trees along with morphometric analysis. Ficus krishnae distinctly differs from Ficus benghalensis by having cup-forming leaves and the nature of the aerial roots, stipules, petioles, ostiolar bracts of the receptacle, DNA content, chromosome differences and nodal anatomy. The results showed that the highest divergence is observed in trnH-psbA (20.8 ± 12.2), followed by ITS2 (5.7 ± 3.2). The phylogenetic tree construction using Bayesian analysis showed a divergent boundary between the two species suggesting that F. krishnae could be an independent species, not a variety of F. benghalensis. The present study’s findings support the view that these two floras can be treated as different species.