Molecular Phylogenetic Analysis of Vicia L. (Fabaceae) Taxa Growing in the Southeastern Anatolia Region of Turkey: Based on Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS)

Leguminosae or Fabaceae is the third-largest flowering plant family and is important in terms of both food production and soil fertility. Wild Vicia species and the genetic diversity of the Southeastern Anatolia Region provide an invaluable resource for the improvement of cultivated temperate feed and legume crops. The rapid progress of technology in recent years has nowmade it possible to use modern techniques in phylogenetic studies and to examine plants in a greater detail using biochemical, cytological and molecular methods to supplement purely systematic studies. The use of molecular phylogenetic analysis is the most attractive alternative strategy for a more accurate identification of the species of the Vicia genus. In the current study, some Vicia L. taxa growing naturally in the Southeastern Anatolia Region were investigated using molecular phylogenetic analysis. Internal transcribed spacers (ITS) of nuclear ribosomal DNA were sequenced in order to study the phylogenetic relationships of Vicia L. taxa. Lathyrus inconspicuous L. and Lathyrus cassius Boiss. were used as an outgroup. The ITS area was determined to be approximately 479- 672 bp. The ITS sequences were submitted to the NCBI database and accession numbers obtained. The resulting tree clearly groups and separates the sect. Narbonensis, Ervilia, Peregrinae, Lathyroides, Vicia and Cracca species but was less able to distinguish species from sect. Hypechusa and Lentopsis. The data acquired were observed to be reliable in terms of solving the taxonomical problems of the Vicia L. taxa. The morphological distinctions are greatly supported by DNA sequence studies. The species-specific markers developed in this study are useful for early detection of targeted Vicia taxa and can act as a guide to the basic data required for the evolution of systematic breeding and conservation strategies, as well as for germplasm resources.