Determining Accurate Nomenclature of Five Ixoridae Subfamily Members Using DNA Barcoding

Background and Objective: The enormity of authenticating plant voucher specimens in Herbaria using the usual Expert Recognition Method (ERM) across the scientific, industrial and medical enterprise is disturbingly grave. The study conceived in response to the assignment of different taxonomic names to five different specimens by five Institutional Herbaria in Southern Nigeria was meant to determine the accurate nomenclatural identities of six Ixoridae members with huge indigenous usage in Nigeria. Materials and Method: Grounded leaf samples of the specimens were subjected to standard DNA protocols of Extraction, Amplification, Sequencing and BLASTING (Basic Local Alignment Tool), for which one specimen (Specimen D) was not successfully amplified. Results: The results of the other differential nucleic acid purity levels, a sequence length of 550-650 base pairs units and various Amino Acid Residues proved all but two of the specimens as a distinct taxon. When the sequenced products were subjected to Basic Local Alignment Tool, specimen A exhibited a 99.78% homology with Oxyanthus speciosus while specimen B, C, E and F exhibited a 100% homology with Oxyanthus laxiflorus, Mussaenda erythrophylla, Mussaenda erythrophylla and Gardenia jasmonoides respectively. The result affirmed that two specimens (Specimen C & E) previously considered as two taxa were returned as one (Mussaenda macrophylla). The study also established that curators across five Herbaria in Southern Nigeria Universities correctly assigned just one out of six specimens under investigations. Conclusion: The study concludes by recommending DNA barcoding as an effective tool to replace ERM in voucher specimen authentications in Herbaria.