Differences in morphological characteristics, photosynthetic capacity and Chloroplast genomes reveal molecular markers to distinguish Angelica sinensis, A. acutiloba and A. gigas
Abstract Background The dried roots of Angelica sinensis, A. acutiloba, and A. gigas in the Angelica L. have been used as the same traditional medicines for nourishing the blood, regulating female menstrual disorders, relieving pains, and relaxing bowels for thousands of years. Although significant...
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2025-07-01
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| Series: | BMC Plant Biology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06987-9 |
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| author | Xia Li Weihua Zhao Yan Zhao Mengfei Li |
| author_facet | Xia Li Weihua Zhao Yan Zhao Mengfei Li |
| author_sort | Xia Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The dried roots of Angelica sinensis, A. acutiloba, and A. gigas in the Angelica L. have been used as the same traditional medicines for nourishing the blood, regulating female menstrual disorders, relieving pains, and relaxing bowels for thousands of years. Although significant differences in geographical distribution, morphological characteristics, chemical components, and gene sizes have been observed in previous studies, they were limited to distinguishing the three species through an efficient, unique, and accurate approach. Results In this study, morphological characteristics, photosynthetic capacity, and chloroplast (CP) genomes of the three species were performed. There were obvious differences in morphological characteristics, such as leaf margin irregularly coarse-cuspidate-serrate of A. sinensis, leaf margin irregularly acute-serrate of A. acutiloba, and leaf margin irregularly coarse-toothed apex acute of A. gigas. There was a higher photosynthetic capacity of A. gigas and A. acutiloba than A. sinensis, which was consistent with root biomass. The length of CP genomes of A. sinensis, A. acutiloba and A. gigas were 141,869, 147,057 and 147,050 bp with encoding 124,128 and 128 genes, respectively. There were 3 genes (i.e., psbA, ndhB, and ycf15) affecting the expansion and contraction of inverted repeat (IR), and 7 genes (i.e., matK, psbN, ccsA, rps8, ndhF, ycf1, and ycf2) in the gene regions presenting notably high nucleotide diversity. Conclusion The distinct phenotypes of leaf shape and stem color can be used for species delimitation of the three species. The 3 genes (i.e., psbA, ndhB, and ycf15) can be used to distinguish A. sinensis from A. acutiloba and A. gigas using the agarose gel electrophoresis and the base sequence. The 7 genes (i.e., matK, psbN, ccsA, rps8, ndhF, ycf1, and ycf2) can accurately distinguish the three species using the base sequence. We establish a rapid and reliable multi-level identification system for the three Angelica species. This approach addresses critical challenges in medicinal plant taxonomy and supports quality control in herbal product industries. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-370636e6623f43b9adc94c04a51f9a1b |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-2229 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Plant Biology |
| spelling | doaj-art-370636e6623f43b9adc94c04a51f9a1b2025-08-20T03:42:40ZengBMCBMC Plant Biology1471-22292025-07-0125111610.1186/s12870-025-06987-9Differences in morphological characteristics, photosynthetic capacity and Chloroplast genomes reveal molecular markers to distinguish Angelica sinensis, A. acutiloba and A. gigasXia Li0Weihua Zhao1Yan Zhao2Mengfei Li3State Key Laboratory of Arid Land Crop Science, College of Agronomy, Gansu Agricultural UniversityState Key Laboratory of Arid Land Crop Science, College of Agronomy, Gansu Agricultural UniversityNational and Local Joint Engineering Research Center on Germplasms Innovation and Utilization of Chinese Medicinal Materials in Southwest China, Yunnan Agricultural UniversityState Key Laboratory of Arid Land Crop Science, College of Agronomy, Gansu Agricultural UniversityAbstract Background The dried roots of Angelica sinensis, A. acutiloba, and A. gigas in the Angelica L. have been used as the same traditional medicines for nourishing the blood, regulating female menstrual disorders, relieving pains, and relaxing bowels for thousands of years. Although significant differences in geographical distribution, morphological characteristics, chemical components, and gene sizes have been observed in previous studies, they were limited to distinguishing the three species through an efficient, unique, and accurate approach. Results In this study, morphological characteristics, photosynthetic capacity, and chloroplast (CP) genomes of the three species were performed. There were obvious differences in morphological characteristics, such as leaf margin irregularly coarse-cuspidate-serrate of A. sinensis, leaf margin irregularly acute-serrate of A. acutiloba, and leaf margin irregularly coarse-toothed apex acute of A. gigas. There was a higher photosynthetic capacity of A. gigas and A. acutiloba than A. sinensis, which was consistent with root biomass. The length of CP genomes of A. sinensis, A. acutiloba and A. gigas were 141,869, 147,057 and 147,050 bp with encoding 124,128 and 128 genes, respectively. There were 3 genes (i.e., psbA, ndhB, and ycf15) affecting the expansion and contraction of inverted repeat (IR), and 7 genes (i.e., matK, psbN, ccsA, rps8, ndhF, ycf1, and ycf2) in the gene regions presenting notably high nucleotide diversity. Conclusion The distinct phenotypes of leaf shape and stem color can be used for species delimitation of the three species. The 3 genes (i.e., psbA, ndhB, and ycf15) can be used to distinguish A. sinensis from A. acutiloba and A. gigas using the agarose gel electrophoresis and the base sequence. The 7 genes (i.e., matK, psbN, ccsA, rps8, ndhF, ycf1, and ycf2) can accurately distinguish the three species using the base sequence. We establish a rapid and reliable multi-level identification system for the three Angelica species. This approach addresses critical challenges in medicinal plant taxonomy and supports quality control in herbal product industries.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06987-9Angelica sinensisAngelica acutilobaAngelica gigasMorphological characteristicsPhotosynthetic capacityChloroplast genome |
| spellingShingle | Xia Li Weihua Zhao Yan Zhao Mengfei Li Differences in morphological characteristics, photosynthetic capacity and Chloroplast genomes reveal molecular markers to distinguish Angelica sinensis, A. acutiloba and A. gigas BMC Plant Biology Angelica sinensis Angelica acutiloba Angelica gigas Morphological characteristics Photosynthetic capacity Chloroplast genome |
| title | Differences in morphological characteristics, photosynthetic capacity and Chloroplast genomes reveal molecular markers to distinguish Angelica sinensis, A. acutiloba and A. gigas |
| title_full | Differences in morphological characteristics, photosynthetic capacity and Chloroplast genomes reveal molecular markers to distinguish Angelica sinensis, A. acutiloba and A. gigas |
| title_fullStr | Differences in morphological characteristics, photosynthetic capacity and Chloroplast genomes reveal molecular markers to distinguish Angelica sinensis, A. acutiloba and A. gigas |
| title_full_unstemmed | Differences in morphological characteristics, photosynthetic capacity and Chloroplast genomes reveal molecular markers to distinguish Angelica sinensis, A. acutiloba and A. gigas |
| title_short | Differences in morphological characteristics, photosynthetic capacity and Chloroplast genomes reveal molecular markers to distinguish Angelica sinensis, A. acutiloba and A. gigas |
| title_sort | differences in morphological characteristics photosynthetic capacity and chloroplast genomes reveal molecular markers to distinguish angelica sinensis a acutiloba and a gigas |
| topic | Angelica sinensis Angelica acutiloba Angelica gigas Morphological characteristics Photosynthetic capacity Chloroplast genome |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06987-9 |
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