Assessment of Avicennia species using leaf morphology and nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer DNA barcode

The mangrove genus Avicennia, found in tropical and temperate regions, plays a crucial role in providing critical services such as habitat, shoreline stabilisation, and carbon sequestration. Given their ecological and economic significance, expanding knowledge by revising species recognition is esse...

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Main Authors: Syazana, Jeffry, Harah, Zakaria Muta, Shiamala, Ramaiya Devi, Yuzine, Esa, Sidik, Bujang Japar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universiti Putra Malaysia 2025
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/120900/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/120900/1/120900.pdf
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author Syazana, Jeffry
Harah, Zakaria Muta
Shiamala, Ramaiya Devi
Yuzine, Esa
Sidik, Bujang Japar
author_facet Syazana, Jeffry
Harah, Zakaria Muta
Shiamala, Ramaiya Devi
Yuzine, Esa
Sidik, Bujang Japar
author_sort Syazana, Jeffry
building UPM Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description The mangrove genus Avicennia, found in tropical and temperate regions, plays a crucial role in providing critical services such as habitat, shoreline stabilisation, and carbon sequestration. Given their ecological and economic significance, expanding knowledge by revising species recognition is essential for validating morphological characteristics and overlapping traits. This study reassessed Avicennia species using morphological and genetic analysis. Samples were collected from Pulau Bagan Pinang, Pulau Burong, Pulau Kamat, Pulau Merambong, and Sungai Kemasik, Peninsular Malaysia. Mature leaves were assessed for their morphological traits, whereas young leaves were used to extract DNA for internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences. Statistical and phylogenetic analyses were conducted to evaluate leaf morphology variations and genetic divergence. Leaf morphology and size (p < 0.05) varied significantly among Avicennia species across study sites. Avicennia alba and A. rumphiana from the islands exhibited shorter, narrower, and thicker leaves than Sungai Kemasik. Avicennia marina displayed consistent leaf sizes. Leaf hierarchical relationships showed three to four phenetic groups, with separations at Euclidean distances of 25.0 (length), 18.0 (width), and 25.0 (thickness). Phylogenetics of Avicennia revealed four clades with strong bootstrap supports (83-100%). The guanine-cytosine (%GC) content was consistent, ranging from 63.5% to 64.6%. Avicennia rumphiana displayed high intraspecific genetic variation (1.57%) and distinctness from other species, supported by morphological and genetic data. This integrated approach is crucial for species identification and effective biodiversity assessments.
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spelling upm-1209002025-10-15T03:18:54Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/120900/ Assessment of Avicennia species using leaf morphology and nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer DNA barcode Syazana, Jeffry Harah, Zakaria Muta Shiamala, Ramaiya Devi Yuzine, Esa Sidik, Bujang Japar The mangrove genus Avicennia, found in tropical and temperate regions, plays a crucial role in providing critical services such as habitat, shoreline stabilisation, and carbon sequestration. Given their ecological and economic significance, expanding knowledge by revising species recognition is essential for validating morphological characteristics and overlapping traits. This study reassessed Avicennia species using morphological and genetic analysis. Samples were collected from Pulau Bagan Pinang, Pulau Burong, Pulau Kamat, Pulau Merambong, and Sungai Kemasik, Peninsular Malaysia. Mature leaves were assessed for their morphological traits, whereas young leaves were used to extract DNA for internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences. Statistical and phylogenetic analyses were conducted to evaluate leaf morphology variations and genetic divergence. Leaf morphology and size (p < 0.05) varied significantly among Avicennia species across study sites. Avicennia alba and A. rumphiana from the islands exhibited shorter, narrower, and thicker leaves than Sungai Kemasik. Avicennia marina displayed consistent leaf sizes. Leaf hierarchical relationships showed three to four phenetic groups, with separations at Euclidean distances of 25.0 (length), 18.0 (width), and 25.0 (thickness). Phylogenetics of Avicennia revealed four clades with strong bootstrap supports (83-100%). The guanine-cytosine (%GC) content was consistent, ranging from 63.5% to 64.6%. Avicennia rumphiana displayed high intraspecific genetic variation (1.57%) and distinctness from other species, supported by morphological and genetic data. This integrated approach is crucial for species identification and effective biodiversity assessments. Universiti Putra Malaysia 2025 Article PeerReviewed text en cc_by_nc_nd_4 http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/120900/1/120900.pdf Syazana, Jeffry and Harah, Zakaria Muta and Shiamala, Ramaiya Devi and Yuzine, Esa and Sidik, Bujang Japar (2025) Assessment of Avicennia species using leaf morphology and nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer DNA barcode. Pertanika Journal of Tropical Agricultural Science, 48 (3). pp. 879-910. ISSN 1511-3701; eISSN: 2231-8542 http://pertanika2.upm.edu.my/pjtas/browse/regular-issue?article=JTAS-3217-2024 10.47836/pjtas.48.3.13
spellingShingle Syazana, Jeffry
Harah, Zakaria Muta
Shiamala, Ramaiya Devi
Yuzine, Esa
Sidik, Bujang Japar
Assessment of Avicennia species using leaf morphology and nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer DNA barcode
title Assessment of Avicennia species using leaf morphology and nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer DNA barcode
title_full Assessment of Avicennia species using leaf morphology and nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer DNA barcode
title_fullStr Assessment of Avicennia species using leaf morphology and nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer DNA barcode
title_full_unstemmed Assessment of Avicennia species using leaf morphology and nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer DNA barcode
title_short Assessment of Avicennia species using leaf morphology and nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer DNA barcode
title_sort assessment of avicennia species using leaf morphology and nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer dna barcode
url http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/120900/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/120900/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/120900/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/120900/1/120900.pdf